First-Ever "Hanukkah Hoops" Launches December 20 Before the First Night of the Hanukkah Holiday

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Billed as "a Tournament for the Rest of us," this "all Religions and all Races are welcome" competition launches December 20. The first-time event is appropriately scheduled in Northern California's East Bay city of Hayward at the new Dream Courts <http://www.dreamcourts.com/> which is reportedly the largest indoor sports facility in the nation. The Hanukkah timeframe 5-on-5 basketball tournament will also feature a trick shot shootout, a free throw contest, and a half-court heave and timeline shots competition.

Jay Randy Gordon, the Founder of Hanukkah Hoops<http://www.hanukkahhoops.com/> and the Chairman of the Boards, announced the Advisory Board which includes media icon and sports agent legend Leigh Steinberg , Steve Baker (Baker Sports), Attorneys Tad Devlin (Gordon & Rees) and John D. O'Connor, Beth Schnitzer (Spritz LLC and PIER 39 San Francisco), Bill Criswell (Inception), Dave Rosenberg (GMR Marketing), Dr. Sanford "Sandy" Rosenberg (Media Research Associates), Neal Pollack (author of "JEWBALL"), Doniphan Blair (A Media / Cinesource Magazine), and Noreen O'Neill (Marin Women's Hall of Fame). Gordon remarked: "These extraordinary individuals wield some serious yet socially responsible influence in and around the Bay Area and beyond. They will be helpful in developing Hanukkah Hoops 12-12-12 basketball tournament commencing on Dec. 12, 2012."

Hanukkah Hoops' first sponsor is a leading wellness company / brand, Visalus Sciences <http://fenix65.bodybyvi.com/> a great-tasting muscle builder, protein shake, and sustained release energy supplement that is also used as a meal replacement and body transformation kit. They run the VISALUS SCIENCES 90-DAY BODY BY VI CHALLENGE ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L17FzZ4SKXA )

Though the tournament will benefit Performing Stars of Marin, a non-profit, multi-faceted organization led by Felecia Gaston since 1990 in Marin City, CA (it provides underserved youth the opportunities for training in dance, music, and songs, and to perform in plays), Hanukkah Hoops has aligned with its first global Recipient Charitable Organization. Roots of Peace, an organization founded by Marin County resident Heidi Kuhn, is dedicated to the eradication of land mines worldwide. The "Fields of Bethlehem" project resides in Israel's West Bank. Though she will be with family in Israel during the event Founder/CEO Heidi Kuhn stated: "During this traditional season of Peace, we will be in Israel to demine the fields of Bethlehem – where there are landmines / UXOs (unexploded ordnances) – to try restoring childhood dreams on former war-torn fields. Together, with Hanukkah Hoops, we are taking a 'shot' for peace."

Event (I.P.) Founder Jay Randy Gordon continued about what he perceives as a new transmedia property: "the hope for Hanukkah Hoops <http://www.hanukkahhoops.com/> is that positive social media messaging will ensue, that you will see a 2013 documentary on the subject, that short-form video soundbytes and mobile uploads will make their way to and permeate the social graph, and that people around the Bay Area, California, the United States, and eventually, the world, will engage in rich dialogue about Hanukkah Hoops, the Hanukkah holiday, the charitable and open nature of the Jewish community, basketball for all ages around the globe, and 'peace through play' at friendly competitions like this first-ever event. Additionally, I aspire to the ideal that Hanukkah Hoops could eventually be strategically-placed content in the digital world and be available in Mobile, Social, Interactive Games, and at 'live' and PPV Events. I hope we will bring awareness and contributions to worthy charitable organizations  like Roots of Peace (www.rootsofpeace.org)."

Hanukkah is based on the Jewish calendar. It begins at sundown on the 25th day of Kislev and concludes on the 2nd or 3rd day of Tevet (Kislev can have 29 or 30 days). Opening day tip-off for the event will be Tuesday DAY,December 20 at Dream Courts in Hayward. There will also be a ceremonial first lighting of the candles as Hanukkah starts at sundown. The last night of Hanukkah 2011 is sundown on Tuesday, December 27. The event will conclude on Christmas Eve Day, December 24.

For TEAM and/or Individual Registration information and additional details,please visit: http://hanukkahhoops-eorg.eventbrite.com/

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About Hanukkah Hoops
Hanukkah Hoops is contemporary Basketball's first ever Hanukkah timeframe, 5-on-5 basketball tournament and competition event and shootout @ Dream Courts, in Hayward, CA. - Billed as "a Basketball Tournament for the Rest of Us," and a true tournament for the ages, this competition will take place DECEMBER 20-24 (www.dreamcourts.com) and will also be a prelude to next year's 12-12-12 competition planned for 12 markets (starting the 4th night of Hanukkah 2012).

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/hanukkahhoops

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Hanukkah-Hoops/100003132020280

Linked-In: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=152218058&locale=en_US&trk=tyah

Follow on Twitter: @hanukkahhoops - https://twitter.com/#!/hanukkahhoops

SOURCE Hanukkah Hoops