News Release for Immediate Release
February 4, 2008

(Washington, DC)  Recently, executives from the Verizon Center and the Washington Wizards’ organization came together to honor the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) by hosting “DPR Day at the Verizon Center”. The event, held Friday, January 25, gave DPR youth the opportunity to interact with the Wizards throughout the evening, including serving as “High Five Kids” who slap hands with players as they came to the floor and receiving autographed basketballs on behalf of DPR from Wizards players.

“Being a big fan of the Washington Wizards myself, it is even more exciting to know that the Wizards are fans of DPR,” said Clark E. Ray, director of DPR. “It is an honor that our youth were invited to play on the same court as the Wizards and for the Wizards’ organization to recognize the work we do everyday to keep the District’s youth physically fit.”

At halftime, two DPR all-star youth male basketball teams, ages 10 thru 12, were escorted to the court to play in the halftime show. After the halftime game, Ray was presented a community service award in honor of DPR’s commitment to sports programming for youth in the District of Columbia.