Hoop Hall to honor Bob Lanier at Tip Off luncheon |
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SPRINGFIELD -- The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has announced that the Tip-Off luncheon will take place on Nov. 19 and will feature the presentation of the Springfield Rotary Club's First Annual "Service Above Self" awards to developer and local business leader Daniel R. "Dan" Roulier and former NBA legend and Hall of Famer Robert J. "Bob" Lanier.
As part of the luncheon celebrating the return of the Tip Off basketball events to Springfield, the awards will be personally presented to both individuals by Mark Niederpruem, president of the Rotary Club of Springfield and administrator of the Shriner's Hospital for Children, also of Springfield.
Roulier, a Springfield native, graduated from Cathedral High School and Springfield Technical Community College (STCC), and is president of Dan Roulier and Associates, a real estate development and home building company based in Somers, Conn. Long active in supporting community non-profits, Roulier has received many community service awards including the William Pynchon Award from the Advertising Club of Western Mass., the Distinguished Alumni Award from STCC and the Paul Harris Fellowship Award and the Maurice Parker Random Acts of Kindness Award from the Somers Rotary Club. He is currently co-chair of the Bay Path College Capital Campaign and a board member of the STCC Foundation and the Springfield Urban League.
Lanier, an All-American basketball player at St. Bonaventure University, played 14 years in the NBA and was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 1992. In the late 1980s, Lanier helped the NBA launch its "Stay in School Program" and later its "Read to Achieve" and "Team-Up" programs. As a special assistant to the NBA commissioner, Lanier has traveled the world speaking with kids about the importance of staying in school, learning to read, and understanding the implications of good decision making and character enhancement.
The Tip-Off will take place the weekend before Thanksgiving, Nov. 20 to 22. It will feature 10 games involving 12 colleges from around the country including UMASS, the University of Southern California, New Mexico State, and Bradley University. For the first time, city teams will be showcased during the event, including Springfield College and American International College. The luncheon will be at the Basketball Hall of Fame's Center Court. The games will be at the MassMutual Center in downtown Springfield.
"The Tip-Off represents a new basketball season and an opportunity for the Springfield community to shine by hosting this special event," Niederpruem said. "This effort showcases two great organizations while placing a focus on the importance of giving back to the community. The collaboration between the Springfield Rotary and the Basketball Hall of Fame provides a platform to demonstrate the importance of community service."
John L. Doleva, president of the Hall of Fame, said the luncheon and the Tip-Off events reaffirm the Hall's commitment to participate in community events and to bring exciting basketball of all NCAA divisions I, II and III to fans in the Springfield area.
"We are honored to join with the Springfield Rotary Club to call attention to the importance of community service and to recognize basketball's global contributions to volunteerism," Doleva said.
For those interested in attending or sponsoring the event, please contact Jason Fiddler at the Basketball Hall of Fame at 231-5540 or Michael Healy at 267-1217 or log on to the official Tip Off Web site at www.halloffametipoff.com.
Frank Colaccino, CEO of The Colvest Group and a Hall of Fame trustee, is chair of the Tip-Off Social Committee. Other committee members are Paul Mancinone, Michael Healy, Jennifer Schimmel, AnnMarie Harding, Peter H. Lappin, and Jason Fiddler..
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