Atlanta Basketball Star Al Horford Delivers Surprise to Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta at “Hampton Hoops Classic”

MCLEAN, Va., April 8, 2013 /3BL Media/ – As college basketball prepares to crown the last team standing in Atlanta, Hampton Hotels and Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta (BGCMA) are celebrating their own big win following the first-annual “Hampton Hoops Classic” on Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7.  The tournament marked the completion of the Hands-On Hamptonality community service effort that included a full gymnasium renovation of the John H. Harland Boys & Girls Club and an equipment donation to all 24 Clubs in and around Atlanta. The Championship games, which kicked off with a skills contest hosted by the Atlanta Hawks, featured a surprise appearance by Atlanta All-Star Al Horford, who announced the starting line-ups and posed for photos with nearly 100 Boys & Girls Club members. 

Between games, Horford, along with a dozen Hampton Team Member volunteers, also helped unveil the hotel brand’s donation of recreational equipment to BGCMA. The gift, in addition to basic sports equipment, comprised several big-ticket items, including foosball tables, an exercise gaming system, bumper pool table and portable scoreboard, along with ping pong tables for all 24 Clubs.

Hampton Hotels has been sharing its Hands-On Hamptonality community service program with the Atlanta community since February when it began a full renovation of the John H. Harland Boys & Girls Club gymnasium.  Completed in part by Hampton Team Member volunteers, the refurbishment included a new rubberized playing surface, new lighting and revamped locker rooms.  The program’s goal is to inspire acts of service – both large and small – within local communities.

“To help others and expect nothing in return – that’s what makes ‘Hands-On Hamptonality’ special, whether you experience it at one of our hotels or in the middle of a gym in Atlanta,” said Judy Christa-Cathey, VP of Marketing, Focused Service Brands at Hilton Worldwide.  “We hope that our actions will inspire all the members of the Boys & Girls Clubs to pay it forward with their own acts of service.”

The BGCMA project came to life through partnerships with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, whose Strong4Life movement educates parents, kids and families on how to build healthy habits, and CBS EcoMedia’s WellnessAd program, which, together with its EcoAd and EducationAd programs, connects advertisers with tangible health, environmental and education projects in communities across the country.

“This is an extraordinary example of the powerful difference public-private partnerships can make,” said Paul Polizzotto, Founder and President of CBS EcoMedia.  "Hampton's support through their WellnessAd advertising is making tangible improvements in the lives of hundreds of members of the Boys & Girls Club, and we’re honored to partner with them to make this game changing renovation a reality."

The renovation will also be featured in the fifth installment of the “Hamptonality Moments” video series on YouTube, which showcases real guest stories about their extraordinary interactions with Hampton hotels and Team Members. 

To see photos from the “Hampton Hoops Classic” or for more information about Hands-On Hamptonality or the “Hamptonality Moments” video series, visit the Hampton Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Hampton  or www.handsonhamptonality.com.  For more information about Hampton Hotels, visit www.hampton.com or news.hampton.com.

About Hampton Hotels
The Hampton Hotels brand, including Hampton Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites and Hampton by Hilton, is an award-winning leader in the mid-priced hotel segment, serving value-conscious and quality-driven travelers.  With over 1,900 properties totaling more than 185,000 rooms in 11 countries, Hampton Hotels is part of Hilton Worldwide, a leading global hospitality company.  All Hampton hotels offer comfortable surroundings and a friendly service culture, defined as "Hamptonality," delivered by over 50,000 Team Members and supported by the 100% Hampton Guarantee®, reinforcing its commitment to providing excellent service to both business and leisure travelers alike.  High-quality and consistent accommodations and amenities such as free Wi-Fi, free hot breakfast and the latest technology and innovations, such as multi-unit Power Cubes and the brand’s signature Clean and Fresh Hampton Bed®, combined with numerous locations worldwide, have made Hampton a leader in its segment and one of the fastest growing hotel brands globally.  Please visit www.hampton.com, http://news.hampton.com or www.hamptonoffers.com for more information and connect with Hampton Hotels online at www.faceboook.com/Hampton, http://twitter.com/Hampton or www.youtube.com/Hampton.

About Hilton Worldwide

Hilton Worldwide is a leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxurious full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and mid-priced hotels. For 93 years, Hilton Worldwide has offered business and leisure travelers the finest in accommodations, service, amenities and value. The company is dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences across its global brands. Its brands are comprised of more than 3,900 hotels and timeshare properties, with 640,000 rooms in 91 countries and include Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Hotels, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations. The company also manages the world-class guest reward program Hilton HHonors®. Visit www.hiltonworldwide.com for more information and connect with Hilton Worldwide at www.facebook.com/hiltonworldwide, www.twitter.com/hiltonworldwide, www.youtube.com/hiltonworldwide, www.flickr.com/hiltonworldwide and www.linkedin.com/company/hilton-worldwide.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta

Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta’s (BGCMA) mission is to save and change the lives of children and teens, especially those who need us most, by providing a safe, positive and engaging environment and programs that prepare and inspire them to achieve Great Futures. Through 24 Clubs in 10 metro counties, trained and professional staff serve more than 3,400 youth (ages 6-18) daily through programs that foster academic success, healthy lifestyles and character and leadership development. BGCMA also oversees Camp Kiwanis, a 160-acre outdoor residence camp, and the Youth Art Connection (YAC), a gallery and workspace for young artists. While the cost to effectively serve those who need us most is more than $4,000 per member, BGCMA asks families to pay only a $35 annual membership fee and no child is turned away due to inability to pay. For more information, please visit www.bgcma.org.

About Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, a not-for-profit organization, is committed to enhancing the lives of children through excellence in patient care, research and education.  Managing more than half a million patient visits annually at three hospitals and 17 neighborhood locations, Children's is one of the largest clinical care providers for children in the country.  Children's offers access to more than 30 pediatric specialties and is ranked among the top children's hospitals by U.S News & World Report.  With generous philanthropic and volunteer support, Children's has made an impact in the lives of children in Georgia, the United States and throughout the world.  Visit www.choa.org for more information.

About CBS EcoMedia Inc.

At EcoMedia, we’re propelled by the desire to create positive social change; that’s been our mission since we founded the company in 2002.  In 2008, after successfully partnering with CBS on a wide range of environmental projects, EcoMedia became the newest addition to the CBS Corporation portfolio, exponentially scaling our reach across television, radio, interactive, publishing and outdoor media. 

Through our patent-pending EcoAd, WellnessAd and EducationAd programs, an innovative twist on traditional advertising, advertisers are able to support much-needed local projects which, in turn, creates jobs, saves taxpayer money, and improves the quality of life in communities nationwide.  In the process, we’re fundamentally altering the advertising landscape, elevating the ordinary, traditional commercial – and media, in general – into a catalyst for tangible, quantifiable social change.  Please visit ecomediacbs.com to learn more. 

By participating in EcoMedia’s EcoAd, WellnessAd and EducationAd advertising programs, EcoMedia’s advertisers agree to provide funding for projects we believe will have a beneficial effect upon the environment, health and/or education within local communities.  EcoMedia’s advertising programs are not certification programs nor are the EcoAd, WellnessAd, or EducationAd logos seals of approval. EcoMedia does not in any way certify, endorse or make any representations about EcoMedia program advertisers, their products or services.