Metta World Peace to Host Contest to Help Low-Income Families

via press release…

Los Angeles Lakers’ forward Metta World Peace continues his drive to support low-income American families and enhance the well-being of their children.   World Peace is hosting a giveaway for a chance to win an autographed NBA basketball, as part of an online initiative he launched last month.  The “Family Defense” campaign kicked off with the announcement that the basketball star would be donating his 2004 NBA Defensive Player of the Year trophy, in hopes of raising $2 million.  Now participants also have an opportunity to win signed basketballs, while supporting three causes close to World Peace’s heart: Xcel University, Inc., Mental Health America, and The Artest Foundation.

“The “Family Defense” campaign is more than donating a Defensive Player of the Year Trophy, or autographed basketballs – it’s about building stronger families,” says World Peace.  “We have to create supportive environments to raise our children. Working through Xcel University Inc., Mental Health America, and The Artest Foundation, we can encourage couples to overcome conflict through effective and positive communication, allowing them to spend more quality time together in an environment of support, appreciation and respect.”

More information about “Family Defense” is available at familydefense37.com and mettaworldpeace.com.  Participants are provided a variety of ways to earn entries.  The giveaway, developed in conjunction with Canadian based contest marketing agency RAVEN5, comes to a close in July, 2016.

Metta World Peace is a forward with the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers. Known as Ron Artest before legally changing his name in September 2011, he gained a reputation as one of the league’s premier defenders and won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2004. In April 2011, he was the recipient of the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award for his work in Mental Health Awareness. In his career he has played for the Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks. He won his first and only NBA Championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2010, and raffled off his Championship Ring in December 2010 – which raised $651,000 for his nonprofit, Xcel University. He is the proud father of four children.