Middle school students in Denver Public Schools will return to the playing fields on Monday, September 8. They will also be able to take advantage of two new sports (boys’ soccer and girls’ softball), in addition to flag football, volleyball, and cross country, thanks in large part to the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche.

“The Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche have been instrumental in their support of the Prep League, and in ensuring its continued success. We couldn’t provide students these sport opportunities without their ongoing commitment,” said Jon Wolfer, Manager of Athletics & Student Activities. “Parents, students, community members and coaches have requested girls’ softball and boys’ soccer for several years. It’s exciting to finally put those teams on fields in Denver.”

Over twenty middle schools and K-8 schools will have teams in the five fall sports. In 2002-2003, over 3,000 student-athletes took part in the Nuggets/Avalanche Prep League.

The League is funded primarily by grants from the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche Community Funds, funds of the McCormick Tribune Foundation, IKON Office Solutions, and the DPS Foundation.

Student-athletes must maintain a C grade in each class on a weekly basis in order to be eligible to participate in the League. The League began in 1997 through grants provided by the Denver Nuggets Community Fund; additional sponsors have guaranteed the League’s continued existence and success.

“The most valuable aspect of the program, however, is the structured activities it provides students after school at minimal cost,” Wolfer stated. “Although there is a $25 participation fee, no student will be denied the opportunity to participate based on financial circumstances.” He added that students can pay on an extended payment plan, or the fee may be waived in extreme situations.

The participating middle schools are: Baker, Cole, Gove, Grant Ranch K-8, Grant, Hamilton, Henry, Hill, Horace Mann, Kepner, Kunsmiller, Lake, Martin Luther King Jr., Merrill, Moore K-8, Morey, Noel, Place, Randolph, Rishel, Skinner, Slavens K-8 and Smiley.

The Denver Nuggets Community Fund and the Colorado Avalanche Community Fund are both funds of the McCormick Tribune Foundation, a charitable organization located in Chicago, Illinois. These two funds have together made grants totaling more than $1 million to the DPS Prep League since 1998. Through its Communities Program, the McCormick Tribune Foundation plays a significant philanthropic role in the metro Denver area. Since 1991 the Foundation has granted more than $130 million to area nonprofit organizations. In addition to the Colorado Avalanche and the Denver Nuggets, the Communities Program's Denver-area partners include the Denver News Agency, the Colorado Rockies, the Denver Broncos, and WB2 TV.

For more information, please contact: Jon Wolfer, Manager of Athletics & Student Activities, 720-423-3645