Hoops For A Day

Everyone was a winner on Oct. 15, as more than $475,000 was for charity by the iStar Charity Shootout Five Borough Basketball Tour presenting Allan Houston's Father Knows Best Program at The Armory.

While the action featured fun and interactive basketball clinics and competitions, the emphasis was on family values as Allan Houston, former NBA all-star and current Assistant General Manager of the New York Knicks, led 208 fathers-children and mentors-mentees in his "Father Knows Best" Program in the morning. Combining basketball with tools for building strong parental and mentoring relationships, Allan's father, Coach Wade Houston, spoke to the issue of effective fatherhood, Paul Bryant, President of the Leadership Institute for Urban Education, led a relationship development workshop, and a special award was presented to participants who exhibited the strongest spirit of togetherness.

During the iStar Charity Shootout, Houston was joined by Jay Sugarman, event founder and Chairman and CEO of iStar Financial, WNBC's Bruce Beck and the Harlem Wizards in more on-court games and competitions. More than 1,200 were on-hand for the excitement which included entertainment by the Knicks City Dancers, beatboxer Kid Lucky, KISS 98.7 FM, DJ Wade O, Extreme Team Acrobats and the Elite Marching Band. Food, beverages and apparel were provided by YUM Brands, Powerade, Pop Chips and Champion.

"It is so gratifying to join with our valued business friends and partners to raise so much money for such a worthy cause," said Sugarman. "This is just the beginning of our collaboration with the Allan Houston Legacy Foundation, and we could not be more grateful to our sponsors, guests and celebrities who have already contributed to make this a successful fundraising."

"What better way to strengthen today's family bond than getting fathers and sons, mentors and mentees together on the court?" said Allan Houston. "With 32 percent of children in New York City living in a fatherless home, we have the opportunity to go to the source of the problem and help provide the tools needed to improve communication and support better family relationships."

"Since both organizations are committed to improving the lives of New Yorkers, we saw this as an opportunity for a strategic alliance to support the growth and development of young adults, as well families," said Sugarman.

The Five Borough Tour will travel to all five boroughs with the purpose of strengthening family relationships, educating youth, promoting human rights and fighting poverty. Open to the public, the Tour will welcome New Yorkers of all ages to Change the Game, Get on the Court Change and Strengthen the Family.

Participants and sponsors of the iStar Charity Shootout have the opportunity to take to the court, play alongside professional athletes and celebrities in various shooting competitions to help raise funds for charity. Proceeds from the Shootout will go toward launching Allan Houston's Father Knows Best Program and 7-week FISLL Curriculum in each borough. In the weeks following the Shootout, participants of this program will engage in activities that emphasize leadership, communication and the importance of spending quality time together covering the curriculum topics of Faith, Integrity, Sacrifice, Leadership and Legacy.

The next stop in the Five Borough Tour – in Staten Island – is expected to take place in early 2012. The other borough events will take place during the 2012 calendar year. These events will be free and open to the public and much more information will be available here. Additional information on Allan Houston's Father Knows Best Program is available here.