Minneapolis/St. Paul The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced that forward Kevin Love is one of seven NBA players who have teamed up to raise funds for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, one of the world's premier pediatric cancer research centers, during "Hoops for St. Jude" Week (March 26-30). Love, Marc Gasol, Pau Gasol, Rudy Gay, Dwight Howard, David Lee, Dwayne Wade and Denver head coach George Karl have joined together to serve as ambassadors for kids of St. Jude and will join the league and teams to raise awareness and recruit fans to support the hospital and its mission of finding cures and saving children. Love has served as a spokesman for St. Jude and helped in fundraising efforts during each of the past three seasons.

"I'm pleased to once again be involved in supporting St. Jude," Love said. "I've had the privilege of touring St. Jude and visiting with patients. I'm excited to continue my support and encourage basketball fans to join our Hoops for St. Jude team and donate to St. Jude."

Fans can join Kevin Love and the Hoops team during the five-day celebration by logging on to www.stjude.org/hoops and donate to St. Jude or bid in the online auction. All funds raised will help children battle cancer and other deadly diseases.

About St. Jude

Since opening 50 years ago, St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital has changed the way the world treats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. No family ever pays St. Jude for the care their child receives and, for every child treated here, thousands more have been saved worldwide through St. Jude discoveries. The hospital has played a pivotal role in pushing U.S. pediatric cancer survival rates from 20 to 80 percent overall, and is the first and only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted to children. It is also a leader in the research and treatment of blood disorders and infectious diseases in children. St. Jude was founded by the late entertainer Danny Thomas, who believed that no child should die in the dawn of life. Join that mission by visiting stjude.org or following us on facebook.com/stjude and twitter.com/stjude.

Contact information:

Mike Cristaldi, Minnesota Timberwolves, (612) 673-8405, cristaldi@timberwolves.com

Aaron Seehusen, Minnesota Timberwolves, (612) 673-1602, seehusen@timberwolves.com

Dan Bell, Minnesota Timberwolves, (612) 673-1603, bell@timberwolves.com

www.timberwolves.com

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