MEMPHIS, Tenn., March 18, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital® is once again teaming up with NBA Cares for Hoops for St. Jude Week™ March 20 – 27 to raise awareness and support for the hospital's lifesaving mission. Each year NBA stars, coaches, broadcasters and fans rally behind St. Jude, which is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

Regardless of the final score, the kids of St. Jude get the "w" during Hoops for St. Jude Week, when NBA teams and players shine a light on the work and successes of St. Jude through online, social media and in-game promotions, in addition to hosting local patients in-arena. NBA coaches also will wear St. Jude lapel pins during games to show solidarity throughout the week. St. Jude NBA ambassadors who make regular visits to the hospital will encourage fans to join the fight to save the lives of children battling cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

2016 Hoops for St. Jude Week Ambassadors:

David Lee , Dallas Mavericks

, Dallas Mavericks Greg Monroe , Milwaukee Bucks

, Milwaukee Bucks Kevin Love , Cleveland Cavaliers

, Cleveland Cavaliers Mike Conley , Memphis Grizzlies

, Memphis Grizzlies Marc Gasol , Memphis Grizzlies

, Memphis Grizzlies Pau Gasol , Chicago Bulls

"We are deeply appreciative of the continued support of the NBA Family, fans and our ambassadors year-round," said Richard Shadyac Jr., President and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. "Hoops for St. Jude Week provides a national platform to celebrate their efforts and further highlight how we are truly making a difference in the lives of kids everywhere."

NBA support stretches beyond Hoops for St. Jude Week, with player and team visits throughout the year that never fail to brighten the day for St. Jude patients. Just this season, the hospital has hosted on-site visits by players, coaches, broadcasters, owners and staff from the Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks, Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies and Washington Wizards.

Thanks to support generated through campaigns like Hoops for St. Jude Week, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live.

For more information, visit stjude.org/hoops, follow at facebook.com/stjude and twitter.com/stjude.

About St. Jude Children's Research Hospital®

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to 80 percent since the hospital opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude is working to drive the overall survival rate for childhood cancer to 90 percent, and we won't stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude freely shares the discoveries it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Join the St. Jude mission by visiting stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook (facebook.com/stjude) and following us on Twitter (@stjude).

About NBA Cares

NBA Cares is the league's global social responsibility program that builds on the NBA's mission of addressing important social issues. This season, as part of the 10th anniversary of its creation, NBA Cares is renewing its commitment to communities around the world by inspiring play and teaching basketball's values to more than 15 million youth, providing an additional 3 million hours of hands-on service to others, and leaving a lasting legacy in communities by building 1,000 more safe places to live, learn or play by 2025. NBA Cares works with internationally recognized youth-serving programs that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes, including: Special Olympics, YMCA of the USA, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, UNICEF, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Share Our Strength and GLSEN.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160318/345783

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150327/194976LOGO



SOURCE St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Related Links

http://stjude.org

