Tamika Catchings Receives First Dawn Staley Award

By the WNBA
Posted Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Tamika Catchings receives a $10,000 check for her Catch The Stars Foundation from WNBA Legend Dawn Staley and WNBA President Donna Orender. Photo by Sue Wilden.

NEW YORK – Tamika Catchings of the Indiana Fever was named the recipient of the 2007 Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award today in recognition of her outstanding work in the Indianapolis community with her Catch the Stars Foundation. The award recognizes the player who best exemplifies the characteristics of a leader in the community and reflects Staley’s leadership, spirit, charitable efforts and love for the game.

The Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award is presented annually. Each WNBA team nominated one player and a designated committee selected Catchings as the winner. The WNBA will make a $10,000 donation to a charity of Catching's choosing.

“Dawn Staley’s dedication to her community has greatly enhanced her already illustrious career and exemplifies the WNBA’s spirit of giving back,” said WNBA President Donna Orender. “I cannot think of a more fitting recipient for this award than Tamika Catchings, the ultimate example of a positive role model to young people who strive to do great things.”

Since Catchings created the organization in 2004, the Catch the Stars Foundation’s goals have been to help motivate and provide opportunities for youth in the Indianapolis area to achieve their dreams and goals through positive academic and sports-related programs.

"It is definitely a wonderful honor to be receiving the Dawn Staley Award,” said Catchings. “She has been a great leader throughout her career in women’s basketball – not only on the court, but in the community as well. She has personally been a great role model for me and so many others. I will remember this award forever."

Catch the Stars has two mentoring programs – Sisters Teaching and Reaching Sisters (STARS) and Changing Habits and Making People Successful (CHAMPS) and hosted several basketball and reading clinics to hundreds of young boys and girls in the city of Indianapolis. In addition, toward the end last season, she gave away 250 backpacks filled with school supplies during the Catch the Stars Back-to-School Celebration at the Brookside Park Family Center. Catchings also helped build a home during the Fever’s second annual Habitat for Humanity Mother’s Day Build.

“I can't think of a person who better describes what this award truly stands for,” said Dawn Staley. “Tamika's talent on the basketball court is well documented, but what she does for young people on a daily basis should be modeled by all. She's an incredible gift who understands the true sense of sharing her talents on every level."

In addition to her work with Catch the Stars, the Fever star is a regular participant and avid supporter of WNBA Cares events and causes. Catchings is also a Big Sister for the Big Brothers Big Sisters program and the All-Star forward participated in the Fever Give-A-Game Program for the fifth consecutive year by purchasing a block of 16 tickets for each home game – the Catchings Corner – which she donates to disadvantaged youth in the community.

About the WNBA
Comprised of 14 teams and entering its 12th season, the WNBA is the longest-running and most successful women’s professional team sports league in America. The 2008 season tips off May 17 with ESPN2 again providing appointment viewing in the form of its “WNBA Tuesdays” telecasts. Combined coverage on ABC and ESPN2 will include 21 national telecasts, while NBA TV – the league’s 24-hour television network – will offer 70 regular-season contests.

The WNBA is deeply committed to WNBA CARES programs that improve the quality of life for all people, with a special emphasis on promoting health and fitness, breast health awareness, reading and youth basketball programs. For more information on the WNBA, log on to www.wnba.com.