TORONTO AND VANCOUVER– The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Bell today announced the Bell Backboard Project, a national program benefitting 10 Boys and Girls Clubs in five cities across the country.

The Bell Backboard Project will provide vital equipment upgrades to basketball courts at Boys and Girls Clubs in Halifax, Montréal, Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver, benefitting more than 20,000 youth.

The announcement was made today at centre court inside Rogers Arena ahead of the 2019 NBA Canada Series presented by Bell – a preseason game between the Dallas Mavericks and LA Clippers at Rogers Arena in Vancouver tomorrow at 7:30 pm PST/10:30pm ET.  Two-time NBA Champion Kenny Smith and Canadian WNBA Player Natalie Achonwa participated in the media event and led a clinic for 30 local basketball players.

Below are the beneficiaries of the Bell Backboard Project:

• Vancouver – Fraserview Club
• Vancouver – Kivan Club
• Vancouver – North Burnaby Club
• Winnipeg – Sister MacNamara Club
• Winnipeg – Victor Mager Club
• Toronto – West Scarborough Club
• Toronto – East Scarborough Club
• Montréal – Dawson Club
• Halifax – East Dartmouth Community Centre
• Halifax – Sackville Club

 Bell Vice President, Corporate Marketing, Loring Phinney:
“Bell is proud to partner with NBA Canada and Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada to improve basketball facilities in 10 communities across the country. The new equipment will help the Clubs enhance the playing experience as part of their critical role in keeping our youth active and healthy.”

NBA Canada Managing Director, Leah MacNab:

“The 2019 Championship run captivated the hearts and minds of millions of Canadians, inspiring a new generation of players and fans.  We’re thankful for Bell’s outstanding commitment to the NBA and to building stronger communities through basketball.”

The Bell Backboard Project is part of the NBA’s commitment to support the education, youth and family development and health and wellness in communities around the world.  Through NBA Cares, the NBA has created more than 1,300 places where kids and families can live, learn or play in 40 countries and territories and on five continents alongside players, teams and partners.

As Canada’s largest child- and youth-serving organization, Boys and Girls Clubs provide vital programs and services to over 200,000 young people in 700 communities across Canada.

The 2019 NBA Canada Series presented by Bell will air tomorrow live on TSN at 7:30 pm PST/10:30pm ET.

The 2018-19 NBA regular season set new records in Canada for broadcast viewership, merchandise sales, national partnerships and activations.  The 2019 NBA Finals, which saw the Toronto Raptors win the first NBA Championship outside of the U.S., saw 56% of the Canadian population watch part of the six-game series.

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