June 19, 2007
Washington, D.C. - Former Georgetown University men's basketball player Dikembe Mutombo will receive another honor for his community service work this week when he is inducted, along with two other professional sports standouts, into the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame. Mutombo, along with NASCAR veteran Kyle Petty and seven-time Major League Baseball All-Star Edgar Martinez, will be enshrined for their humanitarian achievements on Wednesday,. June 20 at its annual induction ceremonies in Boise, Idaho.
The Humanitarian Hall of Fame annually inducts individuals who are world-class in athletic ability, role models in their community and have a strong record of humanitarian efforts.
"The World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame is honored to include Kyle Petty, Dikembe Mutombo and Edgar Martinez among its fraternity of role models," said Larry Maneely, President, Board of Directors of the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame. "As humanitarians and community leaders they represent all that is good in sport and remind us of the importance of setting positive examples through community service for our peers and our youth."
Mutombo, 40, of the Houston Rockets is the Hall's seventh NBA inductee. The eight-time NBA All-star and four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year recently concluded his 15th NBA season. He previously played for the Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets and New York Knicks.
Mutombo, who originally came to the U.S. on an academic scholarship to study medicine at Georgetown University, is being honored for his long-standing dedication to improving the health, education and quality of life for the people in his birthplace, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other parts of the world. Through the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation (www.dmf.org), Mutombo has contributed some $15 million toward the $29 million cost of building the new 300-bed Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital and Research Center in the capital city of Kinshasa. His foundation also supports the International Polio Victims Response Committee in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and he is personally involved with the NBA's Basketball without Borders Africa initiative, the United for Children, Unite against AIDS campaign and CARE.
Petty, 46, a 28-year NASCAR veteran with more than 750 career Cup starts is the Hall of Fame's first NASCAR inductee. Petty's first test in a major league stock car race resulted in winning the 1979 Daytona ARCA 200. Since then, he has collected eight victories on the NASCAR Nextel Cup circuit including two top-fives and nine top-10s in 1997 - his first year as a car owner. In 2006, he brought the No. 45 back into the top-35 in owner points.
Petty is being honored for founding the Chick-Fil-A Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America (www.kylepettycharityride.com), which since 1995 has become the most successful event by anyone in the NASCAR garage and for establishing the Victory Junction Gang Camp (www.victoryjunction.org) in memory of his late son, Adam. The North Carolina camp annually brings together over 2,000 children ages 7 to 15, who are battling similar health issues, for life-changing camping experiences. Victory Junction Gang is operated entirely through contributions of corporations, organization and individuals along with the assistance of some 2,000 volunteers each year.
Martinez, 44, the Hall's seventh Major League Baseball inductee, is considered the greatest designated hitter in the history of baseball. Throughout an 18-year career - all with the Seattle Mariners - Martinez made seven Major League All-Star Game appearances, received four Silver Slugger awards and was named AL Designated Hitter of the Year five times.
Former Hoya Men's Basketball Star Dikembe Mutombo to be Inducted into World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame on Wednesday cont'd
Martinez is being honored for countless hours, funds, resources and contributions that he and his wife Holli have made available to Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle www.seattlechildrens.org including the Edgar Martinez Endowment for Muscular Dystrophy Research, established by the Mariners in honor of his retirement, which has grown to nearly $200,000. He has also helped generate more then $500,000 through the Children's Hospital Wishing Well Night at Safeco Field. Martinez has also supported Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, Overlake Hospital, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Wishing Star Foundation, United Way, Esperanza, Page Ahead Children's Literacy Program, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys & Girls Clubs and Mariners Care.
The World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame inductees now represent 12 different sports and support charitable causes in 11 philanthropic categories including Children & Youth, Civil Rights, Education, Health & Disease, Homelessness, Hunger & Poverty, Inner City Revitalization, Overseas Aid, Sports & Recreation, Values in Education, and Women's Equality in Sport.
About The World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame The World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame (www.SportsHumanitarian.com), located on the Boise State University campus in Idaho, recognizes individuals and organizations from the world of amateur and professional athletics who, through their humanitarian efforts, distinguish themselves as role models in the community. Over 35 sports-humanitarians have been enshrined in Boise including tennis great Arthur Ashe, Major League Baseball pioneer Jackie Robinson, NFL coaching legend Tom Landry, the NBA's David Robinson, soccer great Pelé and the Harlem Globetrotters.
The Hall was the inspiration behind Boise's Humanitarian Bowl and its Humanitarian Awards program annually recognizes exceptional community-focused organizations and leaders from Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, National Football League, National Hockey League, Major League Soccer, NASCAR, NCAA College Football and other organizations. The World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and is open weekdays to visitors and humanitarians of all ages.
