BASKETBALL STAR TAMIKA CATCHINGS NAMED LATEST LAUREUS AMBASSADOR

• Nine-time WNBA All-Star and three-time Olympic gold medallist to support Laureus Sport for Good Foundation as an Ambassador
• ‘I am thrilled to be a Laureus Ambassador and further drive the notion that sports can truly create change’ – says Catchings
• Catchings joins growing list of sporting stars of past and present dedicated to promoting the power of sport for positive change

INDIANPOLIS, May 29, 2015 – One of the USA’s leading women’s basketball players, nine-time WNBA all-star and triple Olympic gold medallist Tamika Catchings, has been announced as the latest Laureus Ambassador.

Edwin Moses, Chairman of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, welcomed the Indiana Fever star to the Laureus family during a VIP reception at the Scholar Athlete dinner at the Hyatt Regency Indianapolis presented by Catchings’ foundation, Catch the Stars.

During the event, it was also announced that Laureus will support two $2,500 scholarships presented to Catch the Stars Scholar Athletes. Two high school pupils are being honoured with these four-year renewable scholarships due to their excellence in academics, work to make a difference in their community, and their participation in athletics.

Laureus Ambassador Tamika Catchings, said: “While I have worked in tandem with Laureus USA in the past, I am thrilled to take on this new role as a Laureus Ambassador and further drive the notion that sports can truly create change. Laureus USA and my foundation Catch the Stars share a similar mission to motivate youth in need through positive sports experiences and mentoring programs.”

“We are excited to announce that WNBA Legend and fellow US Olympian Tamika Catchings will join the growing roster of Laureus Ambassadors” said Edwin Moses. “We are looking forward to not only working with Tamika to help engage our youth to utilise sports as tool for change, but also learning from her experiences from her work with her own foundation.”

The Catch the Stars Foundation empowers youth to achieve their dreams by providing goal setting programs that promote fitness, literacy, and youth development. Its programs are targeted to youth throughout Indianapolis, with a specific emphasis on supporting and assisting under-served and low to moderate income communities throughout the city.

Tamika Catchings is a prolific points scorer in the WNBA, having represented Indiana Fever since 2002. In 2011, she was announced as WNBA MVP for the first time and was voted in by fans as one of the Top 15 players in WNBA history. In 2007, Catchings signed for Turkish outfit Galatasaray and represented them for two seasons.

As a Laureus Ambassador, Catchings, along with her fellow Ambassadors and members of the Laureus World Sports Academy, will help underprivileged youth overcome their challenges through sport, including their participation in local events with sport for development organisations. The Laureus Sport for Good Foundation works with numerous organisations around the world to help support initiatives that affect youth such as access to quality coaches and mentors, furthering education, and increasing physical activity and health awareness.

For more information about the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, please click here.

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