09 April 2013

April 9, 2013

The Salvation Army Renton Corps annual dinner fundraiser will be held on Tuesday, May 14, at 5:30pm, and feature NBA Champion Lenny Wilkens as its keynote speaker. The eighth annual event, "Need Knows No Season," will be held at the Renton Pavilion Event Center. Money raised at the event will benefit The Salvation Army Renton programs and services. Admission tickets are on sale now, $50 each.

Lenny Wilkens is best known for his contributions as a player and coach of the Seattle SuperSonics - especially the NBA championship in 1979. However, his NBA career includes much more than the Seattle team. He was inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame as both a professional player (1989) and twice as a coach (1998 and 2010). He is the only NBA representative listed among both the all-time top 50 players and top 10 coaches. A member of the Providence College Athletic Hall of Fame, he has been inducted into the Halls of Fame in New York, Missouri, Ohio, and Washington, as well as the African-American Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame. As a player, he was a nine-time NBA All-Star team member and Most Valuable Player in 1971.

Mr. Wilkens was one of the most successful coaches in franchise history for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors, and Seattle SuperSonics. Despite his many NBA honors, one of his proudest moments was coaching the United States "Dream Team II" to a gold medal in the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics. He also was assistant coach of "Dream Team I" in 1992.

Beyond his many successes on the court, Mr. Wilkens has received Honorary Doctorate degrees from Providence College, St. Francis College, and Seattle University. He served as vice chairman of the Seattle SuperSonics ownership group in 2007. He is the founder of the Lenny Wilkens Foundation, which funds organizations and education services to young people while honoring their dignity and sense of self respect. 

The annual fundraiser dinner will inform and excite attendees about the work The Salvation Army Renton Corps continues to do in the community. In February 2013, more than 3,230 residents depended on The Salvation Army Food Bank for food and cooking ingredients for their families.

Plus, The Salvation Army Renton Corps has seen a significant spike in demand for other services. Among the most popular programs is the free Community Supper offered every weeknight. Each night, a home-cooked dinner is served at to the homeless, senior citizens, and people living on the edge. In January  2013, more than 2,080 free meals were served. "A warm, home-cooked meal is a simple luxury that many individuals and families can't afford." reported Salvation Army Renton Corps Officer Captain Chris Aird. "Fortunately, we can provide the nutrition and experience at the Renton Community Supper."

The after-school program is also growing. Renton children can attend free after-school homework tutoring and music lessons. For working families, the structured, safe environment of The Salvation Army after-school programs is a valuable benefit. In February 2013, nearly 100 kids participated in the after-school tutoring program.

The fundraiser will begin at 5:30pm, with a social time and punch bowl. A buffet dinner will begin at 6:30 pm, followed by a program hosted by Mayor Denis Law, Captain Chris Aird and keynote address by Mr. Wilkens.

To purchase tickets for the dinner ($50 each), please call The Salvation Army Renton Corps at 425-255-5974, ext. 15.

Friends who can't attend the event, but still wish to make a donation, should send contributions to The Salvation Army, P.O. Box 977, Renton, WA, 98057.