Online sales promotion kicks off   23 Jan 2015

The Basketball Otago Development Trust has launched its key fundraising campaign, an online sales promotion (www.keepbasketballinotago.co.nz) with the winner securing a singlet signed by New Zealand NBA player Steven Adams and a trip to the US to watch him play.

With Basketball Otago on the brink of liquidation, the Otago Basketball Development Trust has been established with the goal of keeping basketball participation and development alive and well in Dunedin.

The trust, via its Keep Basketball in Otago campaign, has already had some success after pitching its fundraising campaign to a meeting last month where Basketball Otago delegates voted against a resolution to appoint a liquidator, despite the organisation having significant debt.

Trust spokeswoman Angela Ruske says though both Sport Otago and Basketball New Zealand are working together to ensure a basketball competition and representative programme will continue in Otago, the group wants to do its bit to support basketball in the region.

The region had one of its most successful periods in history last year with age-group representative teams faring well nationally, local secondary school teams winning the national A & AA tournaments, two junior tall blacks and a junior tall fern from the region, so the prospect of no basketball in Otago in 2015 is unacceptable, Ruske says.

The trust is hoping to generate as much money as possible via the sales promotion www.keepbasketballinotago.co.nz this month as Basketball Otago delegates will meet again later next month to see how the trust has fared in its fundraising endeavours and to vote whether to proceed with liquidation.

Ruske says there is a lot of goodwill towards Basketball Otago throughout the country and if every basketball supporter was able to contribute $10 to the cause, with the possibility of winning a trip to the US, the trust could easily reach its fundraising goal.

As well as Steven Adams showing his support for the cause, former Nuggets coach and Basketball Otago development officer, Mark Dickel - now coach of the Canterbury Rams - has offered his support, with the Rams scheduled to play a fundraising pre-season game in Dunedin next month.

Tall Ferns and White Ferns player Suzie Bates is also on board, signing a singlet for an auction to be held in conjunction with the Rams’ game.

The public can enter the online sales promotion for the Adams-signed singlet and US trip for only $10 at www.keepbasketballinotago.co.nz. The promotion closes on February 5.

Supporters can also offer donations through the Give A Little website at www.givealittle.co.nz.

Another option for both businesses and individuals to support the Keep Basketball in Otago cause is through a supporters’ “brick wall” which will be established at the Edgar Centre in Dunedin.

Depending on the amount contributed, supporters’ advertising will be displayed on the brick wall with pledges only being called upon if the group is successful in its fundraising efforts. Anyone interested in finding out more about this initiative should contact Ruske at [email protected].

Ends.

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