Olimpia Milano and Maccabi Tel Aviv To Help in Chicago

For the first time ever, two Euroleague professional basketball teams will play on North American soil. On October 1, 2015, 7 p.m. Chicago’s United Center will host the Euro Classic between six-time European Champs Maccabi Tel Aviv and three-time Euro champs Armani Exchange Milan. Both teams have created a “Give Back Ticket Program to battle violence”– over 4,000 tickets, from the 200 and 300 levels at the United Center, are being offered at a special face value price of $25.00. These group tickets are available through the United Center Box Office, group sales or through Ticketmaster by using offer code “giveback”. People are encouraged to buy these tickets for themselves or donate to allow Chicago students, who otherwise would not be able to afford the price of admission, to enjoy a “World Cup” experience at the home of the Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks.

Half the proceeds from this program will go towards Breakthrough’s Coaches United Against Violence Program. Coaches United Against Violence has 18 public league coaches that work with students in the community and in schools to learn how to resolve conflicts peacefully.

“Maccabi Tel Aviv and Armani Milan are proud to give back to Chicago, to battle violence issues that are truly a global problem,” said both teams in a joint statement. “Both our franchises have benefited from great Chicago-grown players. Chicago is a world class city that we care deeply about and with this program, we hope to make an impact in the community.”

“The initial purpose of CUAV was to gather a small group of influencers and take a collective stand against a problem many of our student athletes and their friends face in communities across Chicago,” said Bill Curry, Chief Program Officer of Breakthrough Youth Network. “We appreciate the interest and support from Euroleague powerhouses Maccabi Tel-Aviv and Armani Milan. It is fitting because we live in a global community. Our hope is that the lessons we learn here about leadership, unity and conflict resolution will become as popular and universal as the game we all love to play. It is possible! Sports have that type of influence.”

Three days after the teams play in Chicago, they will move onto a second game on Oct. 4 at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

Featured players in the games include former LA Laker and 2-time NBA Champion Jordan Farmar and former All Big 10 performers Trevor Mbakwe and Robbie Hummel. Some of Maccabi’s former players who came out of the Chicago area are Anthony Parker, Will Bynum, Jeremy Pargo, Rashard Griffith and Deon Thomas. Olimpia Milan enjoyed the play of Skip Thoren, James Singleton, David Moss, Mason Rocca and Kiwane Garris.

Maccabi has chosen Perspectives Charter Schools (pcsedu.org) and Positive Coaching Alliance (positivecoach.org) as additional community partners based on their dedication to Chicago’s youth and anti-violence initiatives.