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Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Tyler Ugolyn Foundation to dedicate “Tyler’s Court” in Springfield |
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-- Second Court Dedication in Western Mass is Tribute to former Columbia University NCAA Student-Athlete lost on 9/11-- |
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Springfield, Mass – August
31, 2009 – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
announced today it proudly will continue to assist the Tyler
Ugolyn Foundation with its goal to support youth basketball by
refurbishing urban courts in cities and towns throughout the
United States. The unveiling and dedication of the newest
“Tyler’s Court” will be held at Springfield’s William N. DeBerry
Elementary School on Thursday, September 10 at 3:00 p.m. as part
of this year’s enshrinement events.
“We are thrilled to continue our
partnership with the Tyler Ugolyn Foundation, as we celebrate
Tyler’s passion for basketball and pay tribute to his lifelong
desire to share his love of the game with children throughout
the country,” said John L. Doleva, Hall of Fame President and
CEO. “Thanks to the Ugolyn Foundation, there will be another
‘Tyler’s Court’ in Springfield, the birthplace of basketball. On
a court bearing Tyler’s name, generations of youngsters will
have the opportunity to learn more about the game and share in
the joy that Tyler experienced when he played basketball.” "On behalf of our family, we are
very appreciative of the continuing support of the Naismith
Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and, once again, the city of
Springfield and the YMCA of Greater Springfield in this unique
private and public partnership. Tyler’s commitment to sharing
his love of the game was demonstrated as a student-athlete at
Columbia, where he helped establish a basketball clinic for
Harlem area youngsters,” said Tyler’s father, Victor Ugolyn. "We
continue to gain some comfort from Jackie Robinson's epitaph
which states that the value of one's life is not determined
by the number of years, but by the number of lives you've
touched. It is very fitting that our beloved Tyler's legacy of
loving one another be again recognized, especially at this time
of the year." This court in Springfield
represents the fourth “Tyler’s Court,” all made possible by the
Tyler Ugolyn Foundation. Court renovations were made in Detroit
at the 2009 NCAA Final Four, in San Antonio at the 2008 NCAA
Final Four and in Springfield, Massachusetts during the 2008
Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend. Both Tyler and his
younger brother, Trevor, were born in Springfield, as was their
father, Victor. Both parents, Diane and Victor, were raised in
the city. In addition, Victor serves as a member of the Hall of
Fame Board of Trustees, so the dedication and refurbishment of a
second court in Springfield is particularly meaningful to
Tyler’s family and the Foundation. Mayor Domenic J. Sarno stated, “We are deeply appreciative of the Ugolyn family’s effort to take the extremely unfortunate tragedy of their son’s passing on September 11th and turn it into such a positive legacy of Tyler’s love for basketball and for fostering positive paths for the youth of our community.” Named in
honor of Tyler Ugolyn, a former NCAA student-athlete in
basketball at Columbia University who, at the age of 23,
was a victim of the terrorist attacks at the World Trade
Center in New York City on September 11, 2001, the
Foundation was established by Tyler's family to support
youth basketball, with an emphasis on court
refurbishment and providing character building
educational programs and skills clinics to children in
urban settings. The not-for-profit foundation, formed
by the Ugolyn family in 2001, provides for court
refurbishments, clinics and educational programs in
cities at no cost to participants and organizations,
with all funding provided by the Foundation. Each
refurbished court will be named “Tyler’s Court’, so
noted with a special plaque installed courtside, along
with the words “I just love playing the game’, a quote
attributed to Tyler while a high school player in his
hometown of Ridgefield, CT. At the court dedication,
along with Tyler’s family and friends, will be Dan
Chung, President and CEO of Fred Alger Management,
generous supporters of the Foundation and this
dedication. Tyler was an employee of Fred Alger
Management, which lost most of its employees on 9/11.
Also present at the dedication will be Sports
Illustrated ‘s Jeff Pearlman, who profiled Tyler in
the magazine in September 2001, and Tyler’s AAU coach
Dave Cooks, currently head coach at Marquette University
High School. “This gift both honors the memory of Tyler Ugolyn and contributes substantially to the holistic development of children and youth in Springfield,” said James Morton, President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Springfield. “Through this gift, the Tyler Ugolyn Foundation supports the YMCA in building strong kids, strong families and strong communities.” For additional information, please contact: Basketball Hall of Fame- Terry Lyons – 917.613.4292 or tl@terrylyons.com The Tyler Ugolyn Foundation- Victor Ugolyn- 203-733-7710 or victorugolyn@comcast.net For information on the
foundation, please visit:
www.tylerugolyn.com |