Monumental Sports & Entertainment “District Dribble” Campaign Brings the Joy of New Basketballs to 29,000+ DC PreK – 5th Grade Students

Campaign's "Bounce Back" photo contest encourages students and families to share photos of their basketballs for a chance to win prizes from the Washington Wizards and Mystics

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Credit: Monumental Sports & Entertainment

Washington, D.C. - April 8, 2025 - Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE) today concluded its "District Dribble" campaign that delivered a new basketball to every PreK - 5thstudent at 80 D.C. public schools, resulting in a total of 29,934 balls distributed across the District. The event was part of Monumental Sports' larger "District of Play" initiative, a transformative multi-year, multi-million-dollar investment in expanding access to youth sports and building healthy, vibrant communities in Washington, D.C.

To celebrate the final stop on the "District Dribble" delivery route, GWiz visited Janney Elementary School in northwest DC, and personally delivered basketballs to kindergarten and first grade students during recess. DCPS faculty and administrators will distribute remaining balls, ensuring each student takes home a ball in time to play over spring break.

ABOUT THE BOUNCE BACK PHOTO CONTEST

As the campaign concludes, MSE has launched a companion citywide photo contest, "Bounce Back", to capture the joy and continue the fun of "District Dribble." Students and families across the District are invited to submit photos of themselves using their "District Dribble" basketballs in action for a chance to win one of eight basketballs autographed by the winner's favorite Washington Wizards or Mystics player. The contest is open now through 11:59 PM on May 28, and winners will be announced before May 31. Further information on the contest can be found here.

ABOUT DISTRICT DRIBBLE

"District Dribble" was inspired by MSE Founder & CEO Ted Leonsis' childhood experience of receiving his first basketball while growing up in Brooklyn, which ignited a lifelong, industry-shaping passion for inspiring joy through sport and play. Ted's double bottom line strategy to change the game not only through team athletic performance, but also through enduring community impact, reflects this passion and has driven MSE's robust community impact efforts. Ted also co-produced the sports documentary, "Kicking It" narrated by Colin Farrell, further exemplifying his belief that a ball can change a life.

"I'm continually inspired by the District and the way we come together in the spirit of service and shared purpose," said Ted Leonsis, chairman and CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment. "District Dribble is a shining example of that collaboration in action. Thanks to the dedication of so many incredible volunteers, our partnership continues to bring the joy of basketball to students right here in our own backyard. This was a true team effort, and I'm deeply grateful for the energy and heart our community continues to show."

Before the campaign, more than 300 volunteers gathered at Capital One Arena on March 19 to inflate 10,000 basketballs for the first leg of deliveries. Over eight months in the making, the effort involved a 7.5 metric ton shipment, nearly 1000 boxes, dozens of basketball pumps, and the efforts of volunteers from across the community.

"District Dribble" then officially tipped off on March 20 with an event at Browne Education Campus in Northeast D.C. Ted Leonsis, Mayor Muriel Bowser, DC Public Schools (DCPS) Chancellor Dr. Lewis D. Ferebee, and Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker joined players from the Wizards, Mystics, and Capital City Go-Go to deliver the first 300 basketballs to students at Browne. The event, led by Wizards in-game entertainment staff and mascot G-WIZ, sparked students' excitement for their new basketballs with a performance from Ballou High School marching band, interactive games for students and teachers, and a live DJ.

Staff from Monumental, the Washington Wizards, volunteers from CareFirst BlueCross BlueShieldand the campaign's delivery partner Victory Vantraveled across the District over the 14 following days of distribution to deliver a basketball and a t-shirt to each student. For the first distribution week, volunteers traveled on a "District Dribble" branded double decker Big Busto make deliveries. The branded bus has since re-entered Big Bus's regularly scheduled circulation, transporting Washingtonians and visitors around the city for peak cherry-blossom bloom and beyond.

ABOUT DISTRICT OF PLAY

The District of Play initiative was launched by Monumental Sports in September 2024. The public-private partnership between Monumental Sports and the District to create a brand-new Capital One Arena included a robust Community Benefits component which Leonsis labeled "District of Play." This program aims to create positive and accessible spaces for youth to play, grow, and develop lifelong skills in sports, all while engaging parents, coaches, and local communities.

Monumental Sports, under Ted's leadership, has been a consistent partner in the community supporting the great works of nonprofits like DC Central Kitchen, Martha's Table, and dozens of others. Coming in the form of direct grants, in-kind donations, and volunteering from athletes and employees - that work of needed assistance will continue across multiple facets of the business.

On top of that, this is a very special moment in the organization's charitable work to make a significant effort to transform access and opportunity in youth sports as Capital One Arena undergoes its own transformation. This event is meant to spark the experience of fun, building healthy habits and providing students with the accessibility to play and grow their own relationship with sports to pay lifelong dividends.

This investment in D.C.'s youth extends far beyond basketballs. In addition to the basketballs, Monumental's District of Play initiative includes dozens of commitments. A few highlights below and a full list can be found at www.monumentalsports.com/DistrictOfPlay.

• Refurbishing 1 indoor and 2 outdoor basketball courts per year for the next four years

• Building a new street hockey rink

• Developing playgrounds in each of D.C.'s 8 wards over the next 8 years

• Supporting youth sports programming and scholarships, including DPR Youth Basketball, Flag Star Football, and Fort Dupont Ice Arena's Kids On Ice

• Providing transportation to ice rinks for children to learn to skate and try hockey

• Investing in local coaching infrastructure through clinics and partnerships with organizations like the Positive Coaches Alliance

• Hosting community events such as Back-To-School and Thanksgiving meal-packing initiatives

Thus far, District of Play has had an impact on over 5,700 kids since its September 2024 launch:

• Capitals Youth Hockey have introduced 1,200 D.C. children to ice skating and ball hockey through the Rink Pass programand through a partnership with Friends of Fort Dupont Ice Arena. Free field trips to local ice rinks for skating lessons and ball hockey rinks for hands-on instruction gives kids the opportunity to deepen their engagement with the sport.  

• Wizards and Mystics Youth Basketballhave subsidized Jr. NBA League affiliations for D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation youth basketball leagues, providing jerseys and offering free clinics at the start of the season, reaching over 1,500 kids.  

• The Wizards hosted a free Coaches Workshopat Entertainment & Sports Arena in Ward 8 where 150 coaches were trained, strengthening the foundation of basketball in D.C.  

• The Wizards hosted a 3v3 tournamentat historic Barry Farm in Ward 8 in partnership with Hoop-it-up, impacting 100 players.  

• The Wizards have held free or subsidized gameday clinicsserving over 250 kids. 

• The Wizards held an open practiceat Thurgood Marshall Academy in Southeast, D.C. attended by 360 students. 

• Monumental hosted a Hispanic Heritage Clinic for 30+ participants on top of basketball donations benefiting an entire school of nearly 300 students. 

• The Wizards have partnered with Building Bridges Across the Riverto support Midnight Basketball, a late-night program offering Ward 8 youth and young adults a safe and engaging recreational space on weekend evenings. It has drawn 60+ players and 200 community members and the season will conclude with the finals and a closing ceremony hosted by the Wizards at the Entertainment & Sports Arena on Saturday, Dec. 21. 

• Monumental Sports built a new playground at Huntwood Courts Ward 7 in partnership with KABOOM! and Washington Housing Conservancy. Designed by the kids and families who will use it, the play area will serve over 560 children.

• Monumental is sponsoring Flag Star Footballto fund three key initiatives:

• Scholarship Expansion:38% of kids who play at RFK are on scholarship, and our support helps increase those opportunities.

• Preparing Future Business Leaders:Since December, up to 120 young leaders (high school and college athletes) have been meeting for professional development sessions at the arena, hearing from various sports business leaders around the DMV, before attending a Capitals or Wizards game for free.

• Girls' Flag Football Growth: We're expanding offerings for girls, which also serves as the core project for our interns between training sessions.

• The Wizards have sponsored complimentary USA Basketball Licensing for basketball coachesthroughout the District. The complimentary USA Basketball Licensing was sent to 83 DCPS schools, permitting 415 coaches to access the licensing, along with aiding approximately 1,200 children in those schools.

• The Mystics and the Women's Sports Foundation hosted a youth sports clinic at American University for D.C.-area girls between the ages of 8-14 years old, who participates in a variety of skills led by the Washington Mystics and AU student-athletes. During the clinic, WSF and MSE offered a parent workshop helped educate guardians about the vital role they play in empowering their children to thrive in sport.

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