The New York Renaissance “Harlem Rens” basketball team and all-time NBA leading scorer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will be honored for their talent, tenacity and teamwork in sports at the 14th Annual Ford Freedom Award on May 17.

The Ford Freedom Award program includes a scholar’s lecture by Abdul-Jabbar to nearly 2,000 elementary and middle-school students from around the state, presentation of the 2012 Ford Freedom Award Scholarships and a black-tie gala at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. “The Ford Freedom Award has a legacy of honoring trailblazers who have changed the world through their actions,” said Ziad Ojakli, group vice president, Government and Community Relations, Ford Motor Company. “Ford is proud to recognize one of the greatest teams of all time that paved the way for many of today’s athletes, and a sports legend who demonstrated excellence not only through his play on the court but through his dedication to the education of youth.”

The 2012 Ford Freedom Award Honoree is the Harlem Rens basketball team, which was the first all-black, African American-owned pro basketball team. Known as one of the dominant basketball teams of the 1920s and ’30s, the Harlem Rens also was the first basketball team to win a world championship in 1939.

NBA hall-of-famer and newly selected U.S. Global Cultural Ambassador Abdul-Jabbar is this year’s Ford Freedom Awards Scholar. His career spanned six championships and a record six regular-season MVP awards. As an actor, coach and promoter of social justice and African American history, Abdul-Jabbar has authored a book and produced a documentary highlighting the career of the Harlem Rens, “On Shoulders of Giants.”

The Ford Freedom Awards program recognizes two recipients each year. The Ford Freedom Award Honoree is presented posthumously to a distinguished African American who dedicated his or her life to improving the African American community and the world at large through that individual’s chosen field (such as arts, humanities, religion, business, politics, sports, science or entertainment). The Ford Freedom Awards Scholar is an African American who has excelled on a national or international level in the same field as the Ford Freedom Award Honoree. The Scholar serves as a living legacy, carrying forth the ideals of the Honoree and furthering those achievements for a new generation.

“The history of African Americans in sports is a storied one,” says Juanita Moore, president and CEO, Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. “But it’s easy to forget the talent, tenacity and teamwork it took for those early pioneers to demonstrate not only physical prowess, but also the courage and fortitude necessary to overcome prejudice and roadblocks to their ability to even compete. In the modern era, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has earned his place as a basketball legend, but continues to build on that legacy with his achievements as a writer, filmmaker and Global Cultural Ambassador.”

The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, in partnership with Ford Motor Company, launched the Ford Freedom Award program in 1999 to create a forum for celebrating and recognizing individuals whose achievements brought forth lasting and positive change for African Americans and the world. In addition to the evening gala, the Ford Freedom Award program includes a statewide essay contest for grades four through eight, which this year drew more than 1,900 submissions.

The Ford Freedom Award program is made possible by a grant from Ford Motor Company, and is an annual fundraiser for the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.

Additional major sponsors of the Ford Freedom Award include McDonald’s Owners of Southeast Michigan, and MGM Grand Detroit. For additional event information regarding sponsorship opportunities and tickets, call (313) 494-5800 or visit www.fordfreedomaward.com.

Kareem with Alex Trebek - photo courtesy Jeopardy Productions, Inc.

 Don’t miss Kareem on Jeopardy Power Players tonight at 7PM PST on Channel 7 ABC!!!

(Check your local listings)

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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar talked about his children’s book, What Color Is My World?: The Lost History of African-American Inventors, and responded to telephone calls and electronic communications.

BY DEB PETERSON for stltoday.com

Just met Dean Kamen at US FIRST in St. Louis!

LOOKING UP • Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, is visiting the FIRST Championship this weekend at the Edward Jones Dome with Dean Kamen, founder of the not-for-profit organization.

Kamen, who is the inventor of the Segway, founded FIRST, which is an acronym for “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology” in 1989. The goal of FIRST is to get students interested in science, technology, and engineering.

Abdul-Jabbar is an advocate of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education, which is why he’s at the competition. He plans to teach the FIRST kids how to shoot hoops for the basketball-themed “Rebound Rumble,” a game challenge for the robotics competition.

He is also expecting to coach a live robotics match, sign books, meet teams, operate a robot and speak at the competition’s ceremonies.

In addition to his legendary basketball career, Abdul-Jabbar, 65, has written seven books. His latest is a children’s book, “What Color is My World? The Lost History of African-American Inventors.”

He also founded the Skyhook Foundation, which is dedicated to inspiring youth to exercise their minds and realize the power of knowledge. The foundation identifies mentors who can inspire young people to pursue careers as innovators in the same way they envision being athletes or entertainers.

Friday, April 27 & Saturday, April 28: FIRST® Championship, Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis

Dream Team in St. Louis: Accomplished inventor Dean Kamen and NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar are teaming up to shoot hoops, talk shop, and cheer on 12,000 tech-savvy kids from around the world at annual FIRST(R) Robotics Championship. (Photo: Lipofsky Photography)

ST. LOUIS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
The NBA’s All-Time Leading Scorer, New York Times bestselling author, and now STEM-education advocate Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will join 12,000 world champions competing in Dean Kamen’s youth robotics finals at Edward Jones Dome Friday and Saturday.

WHO

• Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the author of seven books, including his latest children’s book What Color is My World? The Lost History of African-American Inventors
• Abdul-Jabbar founded the Skyhook Foundation with the goal to inspire today’s youth to exercise their minds and realize the power of knowledge. The foundation identifies mentors who can inspire youth to pursue careers as innovators in the same way they envision being athletes or entertainers
• Accomplished inventor Dean Kamen founded FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) in 1989 to inspire young people’s interest in science and technology
• Annual FIRST Championship hosts 12,000 students from 32 countries and their custom-built robots
• Expected attendance: 25,000 additional fans, parents, mentors, coaches, and sponsors

WHAT

• FIRST Championship is a culmination of youth robotics and science-challenge teams that won regional FIRST competitions held across the world, beginning last fall
• During heart-pounding, high-energy matches, students put their custom-built robots to the test with the help of mentors and coaches
• Abdul-Jabbar will sign books, meet teams, operate a robot, speak at ceremonies, and tour “pit-area” with Kamen family

WHEN & WHERE
April 27-28 in the Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis (All times CT)

Friday, April 27
8:30 am–9:15 am - FIRST® Robotics Competition Opening Ceremonies, Edward Jones Dome

12:00 pm–1:00 pm - ‘Dean’s List’ Awards Ceremony, America’s Ballroom, 2nd floor
1:30 pm–2:30 pm - Read-Aloud & Book Signing with Junior FIRST® LEGO® League, Room 274
2:30 pm–3:00 pm - Tour of robotics teams’ “pit area” with Kamen family members, America’s Center

Saturday, April 28
11:00 am–12:00 pm - FIRST® Tech Challenge Closing Ceremony, America’s Ballroom, 2nd floor
1:00 pm–2:30 pm - Book Signing in FIRST® Robotics Competition ‘Live Stage’ in Atrium, 2nd Floor

VISUALS

• Teens show Abdul-Jabbar how to shoot hoops in basketball-themed robotics practice session
• Abdul-Jabbar to referee live robotics match, climbing ladder to judge robot “height”
• NBA great to speak at robotics closing ceremony, after which he will honor tech-savvy teens with ‘high fives’
• 7’2” Abdul-Jabbar to read aloud to kids as young as 6 during book-signing: kids to sing birthday song
• Abdul-Jabbar and Kamen family members to tour “pit-area” in support of 12,000 robotics participants
• 25,000 FIRST fans cheering from the stands during robot matches, in pep rally-style

STORY ANGLES

• Abdul-Jabbar shoots hoops with a robot called ‘Skyhook’ in basketball-themed robotics practice session
• NBA’s All-Time Leading Scorer backs Kamen’s message: Celebrating science and technology as we do sports and entertainment is critical in creating the next generation of innovators and leaders
• Abdul-Jabbar shines a light on the world of African-American invention through children’s book What Color is My World?
• Abdul-Jabbar makes big impression on little engineers: Book-signing with FIRST participants as young as 6
• More females and minorities in science & technology (STEM) fields: Interview accomplished young females and minorities about their FIRST experience

EDITOR’S NOTE
Schedule for Abdul-Jabbar to practice with robots and to referee robot match: Friday between 9:30–11:00 am and 3:00–5:00 pm

Media can register online to attend FIRST Championship: http://www.usfirst.org/aboutus/cmp-media-registration

INFORMATION
www.usfirst.org
www.kareemabduljabbar.com
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50249053〈=en

MULTIMEDIA AVAILABLE:http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50249053〈=en
Contact:
FIRST ®
Shana Benzinane, 603-206-2482
sbenzinane@usfirst.org