NEEDS WE ADDRESS:

The Stampede is a team with heart. Not only does it take heart to win on and off the court, it also takes hard work, commitment, teamwork and dedicated leaders. We have those necessary elements on our team, and through those elements, we want the Treasure Valley to know that we appreciate their support, and will continue to do our part to keep our communities thriving.

The year-round employees in the front office provide the pulse that keeps the heart of the Stampede beating. The department oversees the Idaho Stampede Community Foundation and is proud to take the lead for the Stampede family in its philanthropic and community initiatives. The ownership group of the team is also aware and involved, as needed, with the foundation and its activities.

As the first professional sports team to establish a foundation in this state in 2003, the Idaho Stampede is committed to providing programs and opportunities that help "even the score" for disadvantaged youth. The Foundation strives to develop programs that actively engage Idaho's youth in basic skills development, cultural awareness, community service, and teamwork.

We are committed to the Treasure Valley and take tremendous pride and pleasure in giving back to this great community. Through our constant dedication, it is our goal to continue showing our hearts to the community and welcoming fans to our family.

MISSION:

The Idaho Stampede Foundation, Inc., has an ambitious slate of programs and activities. It will take a number of years to fully develop this community outreach effort, but the following information is a recap of the programs and activities. The foundation will not focus on a specific demographic profile for its activities and programming.

POPULATION WE SERVE/CURRENT PROGRAMS:

Basketball Clinics for Youth
The Idaho Stampede sponsors holiday break basketball camps for the local YMCA. In addition to providing monetary support for these events, the team sends at least one staff member to provide instruction and motivation for the young attendees. The Hope House in Nampa has also been the site of Idaho Stampede clinics for youth. In addition to coaching the children from the Hope House, Stampede staffers spend time on the court playing alongside these Canyon County youth.

Read To Achieve & Reading Timeouts, presented by Key Bank
The Idaho Stampede developed an educational outreach titled "The Reading Stampede” that is now a part of the NBA Development League’s “Read To Achieve” initiative. The program is designed to motivate elementary students in grades K through 6 to develop a lifelong love of reading. The content areas covered in this reading program are non-fiction.

With significant support from Key Bank, the program was a huge success in the past four years. This season the outreach efforts for the Read to Achieve program extended from Johnson Elementary in Parma, to Snake River Elementary in Nampa, to Hubbard Elementary in Kuna, to Shadow Hills Elementary in Boise, plus many more throughout the Valley.

Newspapers in Education Essay Contest
Students throughout the Treasure Valley were able to enter into an essay contest through the Idaho Statesman newspaper. Each student received newspaper inserts about current events and were encouraged to write an essay pertaining to the news. Various prizes, including an opportunity to see a Stampede game were used to encourage students to develop their writing skills.
Micron Math Program
For the 2006-07 Stampede Season, the Idaho Stampede partnered with the Micron Foundation to excite students in grades 6-7 about Math and Science.

Worksheets that included Math and Science problems related to Basketball were introduced into classrooms throughout the Treasure Valley. A very extensive incentive program was incorporated to motivate students and teachers to excel at their development in the classroom. The grand prize for students was a trip to see the Utah Jazz play in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Focus on Youth and Basketball Awareness Programs
To encourage kids to participate in basketball at their youth organizations, the Stampede selects local Y-Ball teams to come and challenge each other during halftime of a Stampede home game. Each participant receives a souvenir, and organizations such as Y-Ball, receive exposure to a mass audience to promote their program.
Operation Opening Doors
Operation Opening Doors is a program that raises money to renovate the homes of soldiers who return from abroad with a major disability. This program has raised over $50,000 for injured veterans. The Stampede has been able to renovate two of Idaho’s returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan with the help of partners, AGC and US BANK. The program has been recognized nationally and the Idaho Stampede Community Foundation has been recognized by the Idaho National Guard for our contribution to the lives of our injured veterans upon their return to Idaho.

Grubb & Ellis Military Appreciation Night
Over 1,000 military family members had the opportunity to witness professional basketball in the Treasure Valley for free, to show our appreciation for their effort in service to our country. Through our partner, Grubb & Ellis, families from Mt. Home Air Force Base and Gowen Field attended the game, and fans also received a wristband to show their support of our local military.

In addition, the ownership group of the Idaho Stampede, which includes successful businessmen from three counties in the Treasure Valley, provides a significant amount of personal time and money to charities in Idaho. The front office members of the Idaho Stampede are involved in the community as well, offering their volunteer hours and contributions on a personal level. The Idaho Stampede employees and investors, through the Idaho Stampede Community Foundation, do their part for the overall betterment of the Treasure Valley Community.

S.L.I.E.R.S. Wheelchair Basketball Game
The Stampede host a wheelchair basketball game that has local celebrities test their skills against a wheelchair basketball team from the Boise Parks and Recreation AdVenture program, during halftime of a Stampede game. The game brings awareness to the unique challenges faced by individuals in our community that have physical disabilities.

Seats for Kids
Unable to attend a game? Would you like your tickets given to a local community organization? The Idaho Stampede has a program for companies and individuals to donate tickets to underprivileged youth throughout our community. With your thoughtfulness, and the help of many youth organizations in the Treasure Valley, children that are normally unable to attend games can come see the Stampede in action at Qwest Arena. The donations are tax deductible in many cases.

Public Service Announcements (PSAs)
Being professional athletes, our players have the extraordinary opportunity to reach out to fans and make an impact on the community. Throughout the year, players and coaches help nonprofit organizations convey their messages and services through appearing in radio and television public service announcements.

Stampede Get Fit! with St. Luke’s Program
The Stampede partnered with St. Luke’s throughout the month of March to encourage kids of all ages to make healthy lifestyle choices. We worked with kids involved with the Treasure Valley Boys and Girls Clubs, and provided an opportunity to attend a Stampede game, attend a clinic by our head coach and his staff, and other great prizes just for eating healthy and being active.

Appearances
The Stampede have an extraordinary amount of talented individuals in the organization who are often called upon to make public appearances including our mascots, players and front office staff members. When schedules allow, we attend autograph sessions, charity events, speaking engagements and school assemblies. In addition to players, AAA Rumble and the Stampede Dance Team members participate.

Holiday Efforts
As the holidays approach, Stampede players, coaches and front office staff participate in a variety of activities throughout the area. Events will include a canned food drive, visits to soup kitchens and local hospitals.

Student Internships
Employment of student interns is one of the ways the team and foundation support the educational efforts and life experience opportunities for young people. Students from area colleges, and occasionally high schools, are given the chance to work with the team to gain "real world" experience. This season, the Stampede were able to mentor seven students from the BSU business school.