FIRST-EVER REFEREE CONFERENCE TO TAKE PLACE
THIS WEEKEND AT THE HILTON CHICAGO

Chicago, IL – September 8, 2006 – Mayor Richard M. Daley, and the National Basketball Referees Foundation (NBRF) announced today a partnership with the City of Chicago and the launch of the first ever NBRF conference.

To kick off this historic gathering of referees, this afternoon the NBRF will host an after school mini-clinic at Englewood High School. The opportunity will allow the Englewood High students to learn basic refereeing techniques and be introduced to alternative careers in the field of athletics. Prior to the mini-clinic, the referees teamed up with Nickelodeon to spend an afternoon at LaRabida Children’s Hospital, the only hospital in Chicago dedicated solely to serving children with lifelong medical conditions, developmental disabilities and a history of abuse.  

“The National Basketball Referees Foundation understands the value of a quality education,” said Mayor Daley. “That’s why they’ve decided to partner with the city of Chicago and the Chicago Public Schools in an effort to give children and young adults positive alternatives to the dangers of gangs, guns and drugs.”

On Saturday and Sunday, the National Basketball Referees Foundation – the charitable organization of the National Basketball Referees Association – will officially begin its inaugural conference at the Hilton Chicago. Designed for working basketball officials, the 2006 NBA Referee Conference will feature some of today’s leading names in sports, media and politics. Highlights include customized training sessions focusing on refereeing techniques, in depth discussions on the state of sports officiating, financial planning and other topics intended to educate on and off the court.

“We are delighted to hold our first ever National Basketball Referees Foundation Conference in Chicago,” said Lamell McMorris, Executive Director of the NBRF. Never before has an event of this magnitude been put on collectively by the National Basketball Referees Association. We couldn’t think of a better place to have our first gathering than in this great city, with its venerable basketball dynasty.”

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The NBRF is a registered 501(c)(3) organization established by the NBA referees to support and enhance their charitable, educational and community activities.

For more information on the conference, please contact Dave Cirilli at Ken Sunshine Consultants: 917.750.6862 or Cirilli@kensunshineconsultants.com