It is only the start of 2024, but the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation is already busy trying to give back to communities. The Crown agency has once more teamed up with the Toronto Raptors in the Home Court Advantage campaign to provide support to four community basketball organizations which change people’s lives through the sport.
Each of the four organizations that will receive support, concentrates on providing a positive, inclusive and empowering environment. Via the Home Court Advantage initiative, OLG and the Toronto Raptors will enable groups to share their inspirational stories and will try to raise awareness of the major impact that they are making on their communities.
Everyone’s Invited to Participate
Those who wish to support their preferred organization can do so by playing the free Home Court Advantage game on the Toronto Raptors App. From January 2024 through March 2024, every time an individual plays the game, the Crown corporation and the basketball team will donate to one of the four organizations in the initiative.
Playing between January 8 through January 23 will provide backing to the Vipers Wheelchair Basketball in Burlington. From January 24 until February 9, funds will be allocated to the Indigenous Sport & Wellness Ontario in Sudbury. From February 22, through March 10, players will help the Abilities Centre in Whitby, while from March 11 to March 27, it will be devoted to the Mega City Basketball in Mississauga.
Maxine Chapman, VP Brand & Marketing Officer at OLG, noted that the Crown is honoured to team up with the Raptors and support groups that make a difference. She added that every play with the corporation is a winning one, as 100% of the profits are invested into local communities, which is just one way of helping Ontarians bring home the win.
Jordan Vader, Senior Vice President, Global Partnerships, MLSE, said the company is prouder to amplify the voices of community builders via the Home Court Advantage program. He also shared that together with the OLG, the two parties continue to innovate in unique initiatives that both entertain and give back to those pushing the game everyone loves to a new level.
This is not the first joint project between the OLG and the Toronto Raptors as in 2023, the two collaborated on “Borough Ballers.” It was inspired by the Toronto Raptors City Edition jersey that celebrated the six boroughs of the city. The initiative accumulated a total of CA$91,132.00, which was awarded to community basketball organizations,
Teaming Up with the NBA
In the past, the Crown corporation was also seen join forces with the National Basketball Association. In June 2022, OLG announced its PROLINE brand has become an official sports betting partner to the NBA and gaining access to its marks and logos. The partnership enabled new experiences for local sports fans as well as allowing them to wager on the NBA Draft.
Source: “OLG and the Toronto Raptors team up to support four community basketball organizations” PR Newswire, January 8, 2024
