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February 29, 2008

MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Bucks will join Aurora Sinai Medical Center during this Saturday’s Bucks/Spurs game to promote the hospital’s Project Nikki Campaign, which aims to raise $400,000 for the purchase of eight Giraffe OmniBedsâ for Aurora’s micro-premature babies.

One of the beds will be on display outside of section 226 before and during the game. Lisette Franco (fiancée of Bucks center Dan Gadzuric and co-chair of the campaign) and representatives from Aurora will show fans the bed and talk to them about Project Nikki. All persons making a donation on Saturday will receive a stuffed giraffe in honor of the project’s name, which reflects the shape of the bed.

Fans don’t have to be at the game to make a donation. Beginning Monday, March 3, fans can visit Bucks.com to bid on several items up for auction, with all net proceeds going to Project Nikki. Items up for bid include an autographed Yi Jianlian authentic home jersey, an original Desmond Mason painting and autographed home jersey, and the opportunity to be a Bucks honorary team attendant for a future home game. The auction runs through Friday, March 21.

Gadzuric and Franco were named honorary co-chairs of the campaign last Fall. Their personal efforts – highlighted by a November fundraiser at Milwaukee nightclub Tangerine – have helped raise over $26,000 alone. Gadzuric also donated money to the effort as part of “Danny G’s Blocks, Boards and Baskets for Beds”, giving a donation for every basket, block and rebound he logged prior to January 1, 2008.

The campaign has raised $250,000 of their $400,000 goal to date.

ABOUT PROJECT NIKKI

At Aurora Sinai Medical Center, there is a special commitment to ensure that every high-risk newborn baby delivered survives and thrives. Last year, Aurora Sinai delivered 2,830 infants, including 360 special needs and premature babies cared for in the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Among these were up to 80 micro-preemies – infants weighing less than three pounds and smaller than a can of soda. Providing these babies and families with state-of-the-art technology to support growth and parent-child bonding is critical in the first months of life.

Project Nikki is the name of a $400,000 campaign to raise money for special Giraffe OmniBedsâ to benefit the hospital’s micro-premature infants. The special beds combine the benefits of a double-walled incubator with the easy access of an open-bed radiant warmer. The unique design eliminates the need to transfer the baby between incubators and warmers, reducing stress on both the infant and family.

Donors wishing to support the Project Nikki Campaign can contact Aurora’s Sinai Philanthropy Office at 414-219-7376.