TORONTO – Canada Basketball is unveiling a new mobile fundraising initiative to assist Canada’s four national teams in preparation for the 2010 FIBA World Championships. “How much does it cost to introduce Canada to the World?” Starting March 12, people can text HOOPS to 30333 to make a $5.00 donation charged directly to the caller's cellphone bill.
Canada’s elite basketball players are making history in 2010. For the
first time, the national teams have successfully qualified for all four
FIBA World Championships. In fact, Canada is one of only six nations in
the world to share this distinction, joining an elite group of dominant
basketball nations including Australia, Argentina, China, the U.S. and
Spain.
The youngest athletes represent the Cadet(te) men’s and women’s teams,
featuring the top high school basketball players under 17 years of age.
Both Cadet(te) squads will don the red and white for Canada this summer
at the inaugural FIBA U17 World Championships in Germany and France. The
senior men’s and women’s teams also earned berths to the FIBA World
Championships in Turkey and the Czech Republic respectively.
Thanks to the technology partners, the giving process is simple.
*A one-time donation of $5 will be added to your mobile phone bill.
All charges are billed by and payable to your mobile service provider.
Parrish added, “Using mobile technology as a fundraising medium places
the power to give directly in people’s hands. We have all seen the power
and passion of our nation as Canadians from coast to coast rallied
around our elite athletes at the recent 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver.
Our goal is to continue this momentum and keep this national spirit
alive to assist Canada’s World Championship athletes and coaches.”
Through an unprecedented partnership with the Mobile Giving Foundation
Canada, MyThum Interactive and Canada Basketball, the text-to-give
campaign provides access to a broader audience of people who want to
make an immediate difference. The mobile channel offers people an easy
and efficient way to give by using wireless technology without
prohibitive fees. One hundred per cent of donations will directly
benefit Canada’s national basketball teams.
"The Mobile Giving Foundation Canada is proud to support Canada
Basketball's efforts to access the mobile channel to reach a new
demographic to raise funds for its 2010 World Championship teams",
stated Jim Manis, Chairman of Mobile Giving Foundation Canada. "We are
excited to unite with the wireless industry and the giving public to
support Canada's talented athletes in achieving their dreams in the
least expensive way possible."
"Thanks to the Mobile Giving Foundation and the wireless community
working together, basketball fans can help get Canada to the 2010 worlds
by making a $5.00 mobile donation," said Michael Carter, President and
CEO of MyThum Interactive. "We have seen great success with mobile
donations for various causes in our country. We are pleased work with
Canada Basketball to provide an effective and efficient way for
Canadians to make a difference in sport.”
TV Ad Spots during NBA Games
Joel Anthony from the NBA’s Miami Heat and Canada’s Senior Men’s
National Team headline a lineup of national team players and staff that
will appear in 15-second spots encouraging viewers to text-to-give.
The ads will air during NBA games on The Score, TSN, TSN2 and Raptors
NBA TV during March and April. The text-to-give campaign will continue
to run throughout the summer corresponding with the four World
Championship events.
Win a Guest Coach Experience
Triano, Donohue, Rautins … YOU? Do you have what it takes to lead
Canada’s team? As an added bonus for the diehard Canadian hoops fan,
Canada Basketball is also running a text-to-win contest for a guest
coach spot with Canada’s Senior Men’s Team. From March 12-April 19,
mobile users can text BALL and your name to 24680 to opt-in to
win. Interested fans can enter as often as they like (no purchase
necessary and standard message rates may apply).
Join Head Coach Leo Rautins on the bench at a domestic showdown for
global supremacy leading up to the 2010 World Championship. The grand
prize also includes airfare, accommodation, a pre-game locker room tour
and a meet-and-greet with Canada’s 2010 Senior Men’s Team.
All contest entrants will then have the option to give back and assist
Canada’s World Championship Teams by texting HOOPS to 30333
to make a one-time $5.00 donation.
Carter is eager to pilot this contest-and-donation concept adding, “the
text to win AND donate is a first for the Canadian market and we hope to
see tremendous results from the point of engagement to the pledge of
donations."
For complete contest details, including rules and regulations, visit the
“Contest” section at www.basketball.ca.
“Mobile giving is a first for Canada Basketball and we thank our
partners for creating an innovative and efficient tool to engage a new
and younger demographic to support their peers, our national athletes,
as they train to compete on the global stage,” said Wayne Parrish,
Executive Director and CEO of Canada Basketball.
Canada’s elite basketball players are making history in 2010. For the
first time, the national teams have successfully qualified for all four
FIBA World Championships. In fact, Canada is one of only six nations in
the world to share this distinction, joining an elite group of dominant
basketball nations including Australia, Argentina, China, the U.S. and
Spain.
The youngest athletes represent the Cadet(te) men’s and women’s teams,
featuring the top high school basketball players under 17 years of age.
Both Cadet(te) squads will don the red and white for Canada this summer
at the inaugural FIBA U17 World Championships in Germany and France. The
senior men’s and women’s teams also earned berths to the FIBA World
Championships in Turkey and the Czech Republic respectively.
Thanks to the technology partners, the giving process is simple.
• Text the word HOOPS to 30333 to give $5.00.
• When prompted, reply with YES to confirm your one-time gift.
*A one-time donation of $5 will be added to your mobile phone bill.
All charges are billed by and payable to your mobile service provider.
Parrish added, “Using mobile technology as a fundraising medium places
the power to give directly in people’s hands. We have all seen the power
and passion of our nation as Canadians from coast to coast rallied
around our elite athletes at the recent 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver.
Our goal is to continue this momentum and keep this national spirit
alive to assist Canada’s World Championship athletes and coaches.”
Through an unprecedented partnership with the Mobile Giving Foundation
Canada, MyThum Interactive and Canada Basketball, the text-to-give
campaign provides access to a broader audience of people who want to
make an immediate difference. The mobile channel offers people an easy
and efficient way to give by using wireless technology without
prohibitive fees. One hundred per cent of donations will directly
benefit Canada’s national basketball teams.
"The Mobile Giving Foundation Canada is proud to support Canada
Basketball's efforts to access the mobile channel to reach a new
demographic to raise funds for its 2010 World Championship teams",
stated Jim Manis, Chairman of Mobile Giving Foundation Canada. "We are
excited to unite with the wireless industry and the giving public to
support Canada's talented athletes in achieving their dreams in the
least expensive way possible."
"Thanks to the Mobile Giving Foundation and the wireless community
working together, basketball fans can help get Canada to the 2010 worlds
by making a $5.00 mobile donation," said Michael Carter, President and
CEO of MyThum Interactive. "We have seen great success with mobile
donations for various causes in our country. We are pleased work with
Canada Basketball to provide an effective and efficient way for
Canadians to make a difference in sport.”
TV Ad Spots during NBA Games
Joel Anthony from the NBA’s Miami Heat and Canada’s Senior Men’s
National Team headline a lineup of national team players and staff that
will appear in 15-second spots encouraging viewers to text-to-give.
The ads will air during NBA games on The Score, TSN, TSN2 and Raptors
NBA TV during March and April. The text-to-give campaign will continue
to run throughout the summer corresponding with the four World
Championship events.
Win a Guest Coach Experience
Triano, Donohue, Rautins … YOU? Do you have what it takes to lead
Canada’s team? As an added bonus for the diehard Canadian hoops fan,
Canada Basketball is also running a text-to-win contest for a guest
coach spot with Canada’s Senior Men’s Team. From March 12-April 19,
mobile users can text BALL and your name to 24680 to opt-in to
win. Interested fans can enter as often as they like (no purchase
necessary and standard message rates may apply).
Join Head Coach Leo Rautins on the bench at a domestic showdown for
global supremacy leading up to the 2010 World Championship. The grand
prize also includes airfare, accommodation, a pre-game locker room tour
and a meet-and-greet with Canada’s 2010 Senior Men’s Team.
All contest entrants will then have the option to give back and assist
Canada’s World Championship Teams by texting HOOPS to 30333
to make a one-time $5.00 donation.
Carter is eager to pilot this contest-and-donation concept adding, “the
text to win AND donate is a first for the Canadian market and we hope to
see tremendous results from the point of engagement to the pledge of
donations."
For complete contest details, including rules and regulations, visit the
“Contest” section at www.basketball.ca.