HECCA and Converse Brings Basketball to Piedmont Park
We are pleased to announce the Converse HOOPATLANTA Bounce Back Program latest project recipient. Along with our partner Converse, we are excited to bring the first basketball courts to Atlantašs greatest park, Piedmont Park.
Dekalb County Public School System's Superintendent Awards students for the 2010 Converse HOOPATLANTA Contests
Message from Dekalb County Public School System's Superintendent - Ramona Tyson
The DeKalb County Public School System wishes to thank The Health Education & Communication of Atlanta (HECCA) for the opportunity to work with your organization on the following programs:
Converse HOOPATLANTA Speed Free Throw Competition
Converse HOOPATLANTA "Get Active" Essay Contest
Converse Balls to Schools (1,000 basketballs donated)
HECCA Announces Name Change to The Health Education & Communication Center of America, Inc.
"Same acronym and same mission, said Gary Cobb, Managing Director. "In order to more accurately reflect our main mission throughout Georgia and the nation, we have adopted a corporate name change to The Health Education & Communication Center of America, Inc. We have focused a significant amount of resources on increasing our initiatives in communities throughout the US".
HECCA will continue to do business as The Health Education & Communication Center of Atlanta Inc. as well.
September 12, 2010
HECCA Partners with Sprint
HECCA's Bounce Back Program has a new partner. Sprint has signed a deal to re-energize our communities in need with new basketball courts in four (4) cities throughout the country. Although some of the parks throughout our nation are cherished and superbly maintained, many parks suffer from a lack of funding, programming or planning.
Sprint, along with their partners, will select potential sites over the next year.
September 6, 2010
HECCA Manages School Programming Initiatives for Resurgens Charitable Foundation
Reurgens Orthopaedics, the largest orthopaedic group in Georgia, has partnered with HECCA to manage their foundation's public school programming.
HECCA Partners with the Largest Hospital System in California
Catholic Healthcare West (San Francisco, Calif.) has begun discussions with HECCA to assist in their community program which will focus on park rejuvenation in low-income high-crime areas prone to vandalism. The program will restore parks and then asks community members to assume ownership of a park by signing an adoption pledge to care for and maintain park facilities.
Once again HOOPATLANTA is right around the corner. The 2011 HOOPATLANTA will be held on April 23, 2011 at the Georgia World Congress Center. Teams get ready! Volunteers get ready! HOOPATLANTA will be guaranteed to be bigger and even better.
August 2, 2010
Another Amazing HOOPATLANTA!
Converse HOOPATLANTA 2010 was a huge success! I would like to give a big "thank you" to Converse, our sponsors and everyone who attended HOOPATLANTA, especially our special invited guest Lieutenant Governor Case Cagle, Brian Jordan, Kathy Betty, Brandon Rudat and Dr. Kay Kirkpatrick. Spread over 50 courts, we over 1,000 players participated in this year's event. It was quite a site! Over 250,000 square feet covered with courts, basketball enthusiasts and spectators of all ages and sizes; the buzz and excitement was everywhere.
HECCA Receives State Proclamation from Governor Sonny Perdue
The Health Education and Communication Center of Atlanta (HECCA) recently received a proclamation from the State of Georgia acknowledging their efforts to fight childhood obesity throughout the State of Georgia. HECCA's Board Member, Gary Cobb, was on hand to receive the proclamation. The proclamation named July 2010 as Youth Basketball Month in the state of Georgia. The proclamation signed and presented by Governor Sonny Perdue said in part, "I, SONNY PERDUE, Governor of the state of Georgia, do hereby proclaim July 2010 as YOUTH BASKETBALL MONTH in Georgia and encourage all citizens to join me in recognizing and commending our youth and their commitment to improving their health and well-being through physical fitness."
Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle at HOOPATLANTA 2010
Casey Cagle, Lieutenant Governor for the state of Georgia, will make a special guest appearance at HOOPATLANTA 2010. As a part of Lieutenant Governor Cagle's ongoing efforts to raise awareness of the needs of the youth of Georgia, he will participate in the Halftime Show at the 2010 Converse HOOPATLANTA Classic Saturday, July 31, 2010, at the Georgia World Congress Center. "If a child is focused on exercise and nutrition, then they can manage their weight and we can move the numbers in a big way as it relates to childhood obesity," said Lieutenant Governor Cagle.
Mayor Kasim Reed presents a Letter of Support to HOOPATLANTA
Newly elected mayor of Atlanta, Kasim Reed, authored a Letter of Support for this year's Converse HOOPATLANTA Classic. The Letter of Support signed and presented by the mayor said in part, "I applaud HECCA for your extraordinary willingness to educate families and promote awareness about our state's childhood obesity epidemic."
HOOPATLANTA To Make A Special Guest Appearance on Peachtree Television
Gary Cobb, founder of HECCA and HOOPATLANTA, will make a special guest appearance on Peachtree TV's original series JJ on Atlanta. As part of his ongoing efforts to raise awareness of the childhood obesity epidemic facing the state of Georgia, he will appear on an episode of the show airing Sunday, June 20, 2010, at 10:30 am ET. "Obesity among our youth is a serious problem that can have serious ramifications on the future of our country. Exercise is one of the best ways in preventing the rapid growth of obesity in America," said Gary Cobb.
Converse HOOPATLANTA Promotional Tour all set for Atlantic Station
We have a full day planned to promote Converse, HOOPATLANTA and the game of basketball at one of Atlanta's most popular destinations, Atlantic Station.
We want to invite all of you to come join us for a great day of fun and register for this year's Converse HOOPATLANTA Classic if you have not already done so.
PowerUp! Teams Up With HOOPATLANTA to Encourage Healthy Habits in Children
PowerUp!, a local organization aimed at combating Georgia's childhood obesity epidemic, is teaming up with the HOOPATLANTA basketball tournament to encourage healthy habits in children. HOOPATLANTA will take place July 31st at the Georgia World Congress Center. Registration ends July 22nd.
The HECCA and Atlanta Dream partnership has been a tremendous alliance for all dads and daughters throughout the state of Georgia. To help support our cause, Fox Sports South provided us an opportunity to promote the Atlanta Dream Dads & Daughters 2on2 Tournament at Atlanta Dream games this season.
The unique concept behind HOOPATLANTA is unprecedented. It is a festival of events with great support from local leaders within our community. Special celebrity guest at this year's Classic will include Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle, Dominique Wilkins, Brian Jordan, Kathy Betty and Brandon Rudat among others.
HECCA & Converse Partner to Make A Difference in the Parks of Atlanta
Essential to restoring a community's sense of place are its parks. Although some are cherished and superbly maintained, many parks in the Atlanta metropolitan area suffer from a lack of funding, maintenance and planning. A new infusion of thought, talent, money and effort is needed to return our public realm to world-class status. Solving problems within our community parks will involve organizing combined federal and local, public and private efforts to rethink and re-energize community's parks. Such efforts require capital investments, and commitment to long-term maintenance and upkeep. Through our Converse HOOPATLANTA Bounce Back Program, we are excited to start and build relationships with the City of Atlanta and corporations such as Converse that would like to make this commitment a reality.
Atlanta Dream and HECCA Partner for the 2-on-2 Dads & Daughters Tournament at HOOPATLANTA
Dads and daughters all over Georgia will unite when the WNBA Atlanta Dream partners with HOOPATLANTA to present the Atlanta Dream Dads and Daughters Tournament at HOOPATLANTA 2010. This fun and exciting event will provide young ladies and their fathers a chance to share a totally cool basketball tournament experience together.
Partnership Provides 1,000 Basketballs to Help Get Students Active in Physical Education
This coming school year, DeKalb County students enrolled in physical education will have the opportunity to become more engaged in physical activity through The Health Education and Communication Center of Atlanta's (HECCA) Converse HOOPATLANTA Bounce Back Program. DeKalb Schools partnered with HECCA, Converse and the DeKalb County Public Schools Foundation to provide basketballs for all physical education programs across the district.
Local Contests Gets Dekalb County School System Students Moving This Summer
DeKalb students are getting active! This year DeKalb County students became more engaged in physical activity through the HOOPATLANTA Bounce Back Program. DeKalb Schools partnered with The Health Education and Communication Center of Atlanta (HECCA) and the DeKalb County Public Schools Foundation to offer a Speed Throw competition for all interested middle and high school students. The semi-final competition was held May 22nd at Stone Mountain Middle School.
HECCA Launches Speed Free Throw Contest in Dekalb County School System
If you are a true fan of the game, you understand the importance of free throw shooting. That's why HECCA created a fun, heart-pounding contest around one of the most fundamental elements of the game. Our Converse HOOPATLANTA Speed Free Throw Shooting Contest provides a constructive, character-building experience for active kids, and especially kids who love to be timed, challenged and rewarded. This competition, which launched in all the middle and high schools in the Dekalb County School System (DCSS), is designed so the best athlete may not win, but the best free throw shooter just might.
WNBA ATLANTA DREAM INTRODUCES "DREAM DADS"
Team Partners with Brian Jordan, Ernie Johnson, Mike Smith and other Atlanta Sports and Media Personalities to promote Dads and Daughters Campaign
The Atlanta Dream is partnering with celebrity fathers making a positive impact in the community through the team's new "Dream Dads" program. The program is an extension of the WNBA's Dads & Daughters campaign, which encourages dads and daughters to spend time together while forging a lasting bond through the game of basketball.
Converse Becomes Title Sponsor of HECCA's HOOPATLANTA Programming
Converse has partnered with The Health Education & Communication Center of Atlanta (HECCA), an Atlanta-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, to help support a shared commitment to youth and basketball in the Atlanta metro area. Philanthropic partners in Atlanta, Converse will support HECCAšs efforts to improve the landscape of health for Atlantašs youth through the game of basketball. As title sponsor of HECCAšs HOOPATLANTA programming, Converse is committed to keeping youth in the game. The title sponsorship includes the HOOPATLANTA Classic and the HOOPATLANTA Bounce Back Program.
HECCA Launches HOOPATLANTA Bounce Back Program 2010
With the mission of developing creative programming and community action through the game of basketball, the HOOPATLANTA Bounce Back Program was originated to creatively address the obesity epidemic that plagues our state. To effectively accomplish our mission, we must make sure our playgrounds, parks and schools are equipped to provide a safe and rejuvenated environment which is appealing to our youth, their families and neighbors to play.
