Look To The Stars News: Yao Ming

Yao Ming To Raffle Olympic Tickets For Earthquake Relief

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Houston Rockets center Yao Ming is raffling a trip to the Beijing Olympics to raise money for the Yao Ming Foundation, which he launched to help victims of the May 12 earthquake in China.

Tickets to the raffle, which can be accessed via www.netraffle.org, cost $2 each, and will give one lucky winner round-trip airfare from a US city to Beijing, a seven day stay at a hotel in Beijing from Aug. 7-14, two tickets to the China-USA basketball game at the Olympics, $1,500 cash, a guided tour of the Great Wall of China, two Houston Rockets jerseys autographed by Ming, two tickets to a Rockets game, and a chance to meet Ming after a Rockets game.

“I’m so proud that my country is hosting the 2008 Olympics,” said Ming. “I am thrilled that I can help fans visit China, experience the Games and, at the same time, help raise money for the Yao Ming Foundation as we begin our campaign to rebuild schools in the earthquake damaged provinces.”

Ming established the Foundation to raise funds and awareness of children’s wellness and welfare issues in China and the United States and address the immediate needs of the children in the Sichuan and Gansu provinces affected by the devastating quake. The basketballer raised over $3.5 million within a week of launching the Foundation, and said its first projects would involve rebuilding schools and providing sports equipment and other forms of help to children left homeless by the disaster.

The raffle winner will be announced on July 21.

Yao Ming To Build Schools In China

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Following the devastating earthquakes last month in China’s Sichuan and Gansu provinces, Yao Ming – Chinese center for the Houston Rockets basketball team – felt compelled to do something and to do it quickly… so he created the Yao Ming Foundation.

In the long term, the Foundation will “raise funds and awareness of children’s wellness and welfare issues in China and the United States.” But more importantly in the short term, it will address the immediate needs of the children in China affected by the quake, specifically the need for earthquake-proof schools.

“It is very hard to put into words how difficult it is to see this kind of destruction,” said Yao. “My thoughts and actions are now focused on helping to rebuild the schools that were destroyed in this tragedy and I hope that others around the world will join in our efforts.”

More than 185 schools were destroyed during May’s earthquake. The Yao Ming Foundation’s website says, “A donation of $100,000 will rebuild a permanent school for approximately 300 students while a gift of $3,500 will provide one prefabricated classroom for 50 students, including desks and chairs.” By working with proven charities, the Foundation will build safe replacements schools and then focus on youth related causes on both sides of the world.

The Houston Rockets, colleagues such as Steve Nash, and many others are answering Ming’s call. Launched only a few days ago, the Foundation raised over $3.5 million in the first week.

Yao Ming Steps Up Donation for Disaster Relief

Mon, 19 May 2008 10:55:44 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

NBA player and Rockets Center Yao Ming has filmed several Public Service Announcements in conjunction with the Red Cross to appeal to fans to help with earthquake relief in his native China after the devastating 7.8 magnitude struck the country and killed thousands of people.

The PSAs were filmed in both English and Mandarin Chinese. The English version will run during the NBA Playoffs television broadcasts, and the Mandarin Chinese will run on NBA Playoffs broadcasts in China.

NBA Senior VP/Community & Player Programs Kathy Behrens: “It is a straightforward appeal to direct people to the Red Cross. His personal appeal will be the tone.”

And Yao isn’t just asking for help, he’s already reached into his own pockets and donated close to $72,000 for the cause. That is, until there was a minor backlash against the basketball star, who earned close to $55M last year: “A bit stingy isn’t it?” wrote one fan.

“This is only the first contribution from Yao,” said Lu Hao, the head of Yao’s management team in Beijing. “He will follow it up when he returns to the country.”

But before Ming had a chance to return to China, Internet criticism of his ‘small’ donation allegedly forced him to up his donation to about $250,000 later in the week, according to media reports.

Ming is well known for his generosity, always illustrating that his heart is as big as his 7’6” physique. Last year, for example, Ming’s charitable efforts raised more than a million dollars for under-privileged Chinese children, and he also spent countless hours toward helping stage the 2007 Special Olympics in his home city of Shanghai.

The Red Cross Society of China has opened several bank accounts and hotlines to receive donations for the victims of the quake. Donations to help survivors can also be made via the American Red Cross.

Yao Ming-Steve Nash Charity Gala & Basketball Game in Beijing

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 09:52:58 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

Two of the NBA’s greatest players joined forces to raise money for various charities in Beijing, and it took just under six-months for Yao Ming and Steve Nash to bring their idea to fruition.

The Steve Nash-Yao Ming Charity Basketball Game and events were held September 12-14 and raised over $2M for needy kids in China.

“I was talking with a friend of mine about the difficulties the children face there,” Nash told Suns.com. “I feel really fortunate that I am in a position where I was able to go to Yao Ming and ask him if he was interested in doing something over there. It’s an exciting opportunity to go to China and hopefully give thousands of kids an opportunity for an education that right now doesn’t exist.”

So, on September 12th, Nash, Yao and nine other NBA players kicked off their collaboration with a press conference that coincidently fell on Yao’s 27th birthday. Yao explained that this was simply a coincidence while thanking his friends for joining him to do something for the kids in China.

Steve Nash has already proven himself a true humanitarian. You’d be hard pressed to find someone who’s got a bad thing to say about the 2-time MVP. Generous, sincere, caring, socially responsible. That’s what Nash is made of. In the off-season, you won’t find him partying in Las Vegas, you’ll find him giving back to the community-whether its raising money by hosting his Steve Nash Charity Classic basketball game or opening an “eco-friendly” sports club in Canada, this guy is good. In fact, he’s so good that he even chartered a plane and flew the players playing for his team to China, namely, Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets), Baron Davis (Golden State Warriors), Leandro Barbosa (Phoenix Suns), Chuck Hayes (Houston Rockets), Alando Tucker (Phoenix Suns), DJ Strawberry (Phoenix Suns), Amir Johnson (Detroit Pistons), and Paul Davis (L.A. Clippers).

All 9 NBA players attended the Charity Auction Party, which took place at the Diao Yu Tai State Guest House on the 13th. Ironically, this is the same location where the 6-country nuclear talks between North Korea, South Korea, Russia, Japan, USA and China were held, making it an ideal location for NBA good guys to showcase their remarkable intentions. The following 7 items were auctioned during the Charity Gala (winning bids are approximate):

6 VIP tickets for the Charity Gala game on the 14th + 10 autographed jerseys from the Nash Invitational Team (including Yao Ming) + 12 basketballs autographed by the China national team: $39,000.
2 VIP tickets each for the October China Game in Shanghai and Macau + 2 autographed jerseys of Lebron James and Dwight Howard + 5-star hotel accommodation for 2 nights in Shanghai and Macau: $16,000. (Winner bidder Song Tao, former Chinese National team center)
Autographed jerseys of Yao Ming and Steve Nash, 2 VIP tickets (with Les Alexander’s signature/approval to be closest to the court) for Houston Rockets versus Phoenix Suns at Toyota Center + 2 passes to the Rockets players’ locker room + lunch with Yao Ming and Steve Nash: $132,000.
An exclusive VISA platinum card with the imprint of Yao Ming and Steve Nash images on it; the only one in the world. $59,000.
An autographed jersey of soccer legend Pelé + an autographed jersey of Michael Jordan in his 1996 championship campaign + autographed boxing glove of Muhammad Ali + autographed jersey of Tour de France Champion Lance Armstrong: $50,000.
2 VIP tickets for the opening ceremony of 2008 Olympics + 1 weeks’ 5-star hotel accommodation in Beijing + 2 round-trip first class air tickets to Beijing from anywhere in the world: $478,000 .
The China Discovery Car which has traveled all over China: $86,000. (Won by Lu Hao, Yao Ming’s China agent)

A total of about $900,000-plus was raised at the auction gala, which was just shy of the original $1M target, but Yao was having none of it and generously kicked in his own money to make up the difference. At one point during the auction, Golden State Warrior Baron Davis even took the stage, performing a few basketball tricks in efforts to bump up the bids.

On Friday, our NBA good guys joined members of the Chinese National Basketball Team to showcase their skills in the star-studded charity game at the Beijing Capital Stadium. The sold-out event gave all 12,000 attendees more than their moneys worth. Team Yao defeated Team Nash 101-92 in a game watched by over 200 million television viewers in China. Prior to the game, Nash pumped up his team and gave a heartfelt speech in the locker room, thanking them for traveling a long distance to join him for this effort. Actor Jackie Chan even made a guest appearance and conducted the ceremonial toss at mid-court to start the game.

SportsBusinessRadio.com’s writer Brian Berger was granted all access for the event, and writes: “Yao Ming came in the locker room after tonight’s charity game and thanked the NBA players who played in tonight’s game. He spoke of how much the effort means to him and to the Chinese people and how impressed he was that these players flew halfway around the world just a few weeks prior to the start of training camp. He told the players in the locker room that if he could ever assist them with their charitable efforts, he’d be happy to do so. It was a really nice moment for these players who play in the most exclusive basketball fraternity on the planet – the NBA. Once Yao finished his speech, the Team Nash players sang a song that the game operations people played whenever Yao scored in tonight’s game. Its a cheesy but catchy song that chants, “Yao Ming, Yao Ming, Yao Ming, Yao Ming……..Yao Ming, Yao Ming”. The Chinese fans love it though.”

In total the charity game and related events raised close to $2.5M for kids in China. Specifically, the funds will be used to support and build more Project Hope schools in the poorer area of China’s Western regions; to help impoverished girls in the Xinjiang Kezilesu Keerkzi Autonomous Region to receive education; to upgrade the facilities of schools for mentally challenged children in Western China and to work with children with AIDS through the Chi Heng Foundation which also supports the Special Olympics and China Youth Development Foundation.

For this, we thank you Yao Ming, Steve Nash and all the NBA good guys who were involved in spreading some much needed love around the world.

Look To The Stars News: Yao Ming

Yao Ming To Raffle Olympic Tickets For Earthquake Relief

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