News: September 29, 2005

NEWS Update: September 29, 2005

NBA Superstar Donates Technology Center to Support Academic Achievement, Career Preparation for Washburn Students

Timberwolves’ Kevin Garnett Provides Computers, Online Curriculum, Virtual Mentoring and Scholarship Access; Best Buy Matches Technology Contribution

MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 29 – Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett, the NBA’s 2004 MVP and perennial All-Star, today announced the official opening of the first Kevin Garnett 4XL Tech Center at Washburn High School, a Minneapolis public school serving 1,300 students.

The 4XL Foundation has partnered with Best Buy, local nonprofit Achieve!Minneapolis, and the National Basketball Association (NBA) to provide a state-of-the-art learning center to help Washburn students achieve their full academic and career potentials.

“The 4XL program provides the online roadmap that all kids need to achieve their goals,” Garnett said. “It is critical that we give them the best technology to help create a top-quality learning environment in their schools.”

Best Buy will provide ongoing technical support for the center through its Geek Squad service. Achieve!Minneapolis will provide college and career counselors for Washburn students using the center.

“Technology is an amazing conduit to help kids learn and understand our world,” said Brad Anderson, a Washburn graduate who today is vice chairman and CEO of Best Buy. “We applaud and support the efforts the 4XL Foundation to apply technology in new and exciting ways to make learning easy and fun for students.”
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The Kevin Garnett 4XL Tech Center will feature state-of-the-art computers with high-speed Internet access and leading-edge software. Students using the center will join Garnett’s Web-based 4XL program, which provides high school and college students with career-relevant skills and guidance to augment the traditional classroom setting. Photos

4XL delivers its skills development and career guidance curriculum to students via personalized e-mail; gives students access to online mentors, scholarship and internship opportunities, and college search tools all provided by Monster®, the leading online careers company; and offers business immersions that give students in-depth exposure to professional environments.

About 4XL
4XL - For Excellence in Leadership® - A Kevin Garnett Foundation was launched in 2002 to connect minority high school and college students with business leaders, resources, opportunities, and expert Internet-based guidance, while preparing them for higher achievement in academics and careers. Kevin Garnett is the 2004 MVP of the NBA, perennial All-Star forward for the Minnesota Timberwolves, and member of the gold-medal-winning USA Basketball team in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. 4XL is supported by leading companies including Monster®, adidas, McGraw-Hill, General Mills, Wilsons Leather and Credit Suisse First Boston (CSFB). 4XL is a partnership with Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT), a New York-based non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to developing top minority business talent (please visit www.ML4T.org for more information). For additional information about Kevin Garnett's 4XL program, please visit www.4XL.org, or contact Simone Santiago.