New York Native to Receive "Bill Walsh Champion of Change Award," for her Philanthropic and Athletic Accomplishments

NEW YORK, Nov. 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pro Football Hall of Famer and All Stars Helping Kids Founder Ronnie Lott today announced that Brooklyn, New York native, Basketball Hall of Famer, Olympian and now coach of the NBA Developmental League's Frisco, Texas franchise Nancy Lieberman will receive the Bill Walsh Champion of Change Award for her charitable work and trailblazing efforts for women's athletics. She is the first woman to receive the award, which will be given out as part of the third annual Sports, Business and Philanthropy Luncheon on Tuesday, December 8 at the Edison Ballroom in Manhattan beginning at 12:30 p.m.

"This will be a very special day for us as we honor one of the great pioneers in leadership both on and off the court in Nancy Lieberman," Lott said. "The spirit of this award and the man it is named after, Bill Walsh, is all about honesty, fair play, innovation, duty to community and hard work, and those attributes are what make Nancy Lieberman the champion and leader she is today. We are very excited to have her join our very select group of recipients."

Lieberman's career reads like a roadmap for success in business and athletic achievement. She is a Hall of Famer, two-time Olympian, three-time All-American, NCAA champion, WNBA coach and General Manager, and acclaimed broadcaster, author and motivational speaker. Always one to look for innovation, she will take another step into the record books next fall, when she becomes the head coach of the Frisco franchise of the NBA Developmental League, making her the first female to coach a men's professional team. Off the court, guiding youngsters and helping the disadvantaged has always been a passion for Nancy and is reflected in her active involvement with the Special Olympics, the Jimmy V. Foundation, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, and recently her work with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Lone Star Chapter. Lieberman hosts and coaches basketball clinics and camps for girls and boys in Dallas, Detroit and Phoenix, hoping that through positive guidance and helpful instruction, she can help facilitate the next generation of student athletes' success. For the last 26 years, Nancy's basketball camps and free clinics have awarded over 12,000 scholarships to children. Her camps expose these children to competitive environments, sportsmanship, proper decision making and accountability, while also teaching them how to work as a team, give and not take, and trust others.

She reinforces health and the impact poor decisions such as drugs and alcohol have on one's ability to be a great leader and athlete.

The luncheon will bring together corporate leaders and athletes to discuss pooling their resources to improve the learning environment for children in low-income communities. Lott founded All Stars Helping Kids in Northern California in 1989 when he was a player for the San Francisco 49ers and has since expanded the organization nationwide. Past honorees include Willie O'Ree, the first Black hockey player in the NHL and the current NHL Director of Youth Development; and George Martin, a former defensive end for the New York Giants and founder of A Journey for 9/11, raising money for the care of first responders after the attacks of September 11, 2001.

Lieberman will be joined at the luncheon by some of athletes who make up the ten winners for the Jefferson Awards for Public Service. The ten winners for the awards this year include:

• Nnamdi Asomugha (Lafayette, La.) defensive back, Oakland Raiders, NFL
• Curtis Granderson (Chicago. Ill), all-star outfielder Detroit Tigers, MLB
• Stuart Holden (Houston, Tx.) forward, Houston Dynamo, MLS
• Dwight Howard (Orlando. Fla.), all-star forward, Orlando Magic, NBA
• Dirk Nowitzki (Wurzburg, Germany), all-star forward, Dallas Mavericks, NBA
• Tyrus Thomas (Baton Rouge, La.), forward, Chicago Bulls, NBA
• Justin Tuck (Coosa County, Ala.) all-pro defensive end, New York Giants, NFL
• Lauryn Williams (Rochester, Pa.), Olympian and World Champion sprinter
• Venus Williams (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) Olympian and Grand Slam champion, WTA
• Ryan Zimmerman (Washington, N.C.) all-star third baseman, Washington Nationals, MLB

In 2006, All Stars Helping Kids created a National Community Fund that combines the resources of athletes, individual donors and corporate partners earmarked to improve the learning environment for disadvantaged children in low-income communities.

In addition, All Stars Helping Kids has expanded their National Community Fund to allow professional athletes of all sports to use the platform to engage in philanthropy. Instead of facing the administrative costs and challenges of running their own foundations, professional athletes can look to the All Stars National Community Fund for the infrastructure necessary to ensure the maximum return for their communities.

About All Stars Helping Kids

Founded in 1989 by Pro Football Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, the mission of All Stars Helping Kids is to promote a safe, healthy and rigorous learning environment for disadvantaged children. All Stars Helping Kids achieves its mission by pooling the resources of athletes, corporations and individuals to provide financial and technical assistance to high-quality academic and physical enrichment programs working with disadvantaged children.

SOURCE All Stars Helping Kids

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