Smithfield, VA

Monday, October 24, 2011

Hopes Vick's Mammoth-brand basketball hoops, valued at $3000.00, will provide empowerment to area's youth

October 24, 2011, Smithfield, VA—Dogs Deserve Better, Inc., the nonprofit organization who bought Vick's former Bad Newz Kennels, is seeking to donate the Mammoth basketball hoops that are located on the property to underprivileged youth in the Southeastern Virginia area.

Staff at DDB's Good Newz Rehab Center for Chained Dogs, a non-profit organization, discussed what to do with the basketball hoops—currently located at both ends of the dog yards—before moving forward.

"Admittedly, the dogs have no use for these hoops, even though they are virtually professional quality, and are still in excellent condition," states Tamira Thayne, DDB founder and CEO. "We toyed with the idea of selling them off as a fundraiser for the organization since they belonged to Michael Vick, but we wanted to feel good about where they ended up. What greater future for these hoops than to bring happiness, purpose, and empowerment to young basketball hopefuls in the Southeastern Virginia area?"

Any youth program interested in the hoops should give the organization a call at 757-357-9292 to discuss their needs and plans for the equipment. The chosen program will pick up the hoops at the organization's Smithfield, Virginia base.

Thayne continued, "We'd be so excited if the donation of these hoops to a worthy cause brought forward the next Shaquille O'Neal, who himself grew up playing basketball at the Boys and Girls Club of America. We hope they find the right and perfect home where they can bring a smile to some faces. This is what it's supposed to be about­—helping each other. DDB is delighted to help children in addition to our country's dogs with the donation of Vick's hoops."

Dogs Deserve Better is a 501c3 national nonprofit headquartered in Smithfield, VA, and is the 2010 First Place Winner of the American Dog Humanitarian Awards "Voice for Ending the Chaining of Dogs."

Tamira Ci Thayne

Executive Director

Dogs Deserve Better

Smithfield, VA

757-357-9292