Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn. (Dec. 14, 2011) This holiday season, the Minnesota Timberwolves FastBreak Foundation will present the Season of Giving Month, with the focus towards organizations and events that help make the holidays a happier time for those in need. The FastBreak Foundation will also use this special time of year to recognize those individuals in the community who embody the spirit of the season through their work to assist others.

"As we get the NBA season underway, we want to make sure during this wonderful time of the year that our entire organization focuses on making sure those in need have an opportunity to enjoy the holiday season," said Timberwolves President Chris Wright.

Highlights of the FastBreak Foundation's Season of Giving month include the following:

Holiday Shopping for Kids - Monday, Dec. 19 (4-6 p.m.)

The seventh annual Holiday Shopping for Kids will kick off at SEVEN Restaurant in Minneapolis with the FastBreak Foundation teaming up with Minnesota Adoption Resource Network (MARN) to surprise 14 kids with a holiday shopping spree at Target. Following an afternoon pizza party, the children will receive a surprise announcement from Timberwolves President Chris Wright about the shopping spree. The kids will then proceed to the downtown Target store (900 Nicollet Mall) and be paired with a Timberwolves player to spend $500 on clothing, school supplies and toys. Timberwolves players Kevin Love, Wayne Ellington, Darko Milicic, Brad Miller, Nikola Pekovic, Anthony Tolliver, Martell Webster and Derrick Williams are scheduled to participate in the event.

Holiday Toy Drive - Nov. 15 - Dec. 16

Minnesota Timberwolves and Target Center staff members have been conducting a Toys for Tots drive from Nov. 15 to Dec. 16. A highlight of the drive was a Skyway pancake breakfast that raised $3,000 for Toys for Tots. On Friday, Dec. 16, several Timberwolves Dancers and Target Center General Manager Steve Mattson will stop by KARE 11's studio to drop off the toys.

Amplatz Children Toy Dropoff - Thursday, Dec. 22

The Minnesota Timberwolves FastBreak Foundation will be purchasing and wrapping more than $1,500 in toys for children. On Thursday, Dec. 22, Timberwolves staff, Crunch and a Timberwolves player will drop the toys off at the University of Minnesota's Amplatz Children Hospital.

Grant Presentation - Monday, Dec. 26

The FastBreak Foundations $2,500 grant for December will be awarded to Bridging Inc. during the Wolves Home Opener against Oklahoma City on Dec. 26. Bridging's mission is to provide families and individuals transitioning out of homelessness and poverty with a one-time gift of quality furniture and household goods to stabilize and improve lives while effectively using community resources. Through a network of over 130 social service agencies, eligible clients are referred to Bridging's warehouses for a once-in-a-lifetime shopping experience. In 2011, Bridging will serve approximately 5,000 households (over 13,000 individuals) in the Twin Cities area.

Season of Giving... By the Numbers

116 - The number of youth who have participated in the Holiday Shopping for Kids event the past six years.

41 - The number of children who have attended the Holiday Shopping for Kids event who have gone on to find a permanent home with an adopting family.

$70,000 - The total grant money distributed by the FastBreak Foundation to non-profit organizations during the Season of Giving Month since 2005.

41 - The number of Heroes in the Making during the Season of Giving Month the past six years.

500+ - The number of students read to by Wolves players since 2005 during Season of Giving Reading Time-Outs.

The Timberwolves FastBreak Foundation provides and supports hands-on programs that positively impact Minnesota youth. Through giving, education and basketball opportunities, the Foundation enables young people to make responsible decisions, contribute to their futures, and experience lifelong memories. In the past year, the Minnesota Timberwolves FastBreak Foundation and the Minnesota Lynx Foundation have combined to impact 2,565 organizations with $1,008,107 in in-kind donations, 60,000 Tickets for Kids donations, 4,328 volunteer hours, 53 Heroes in the Making on-court presentations and 14 $5,000 grants.

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