Robert Pera

Memphis Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies released the following statement from Grizzlies Controlling Owner Robert Pera regarding Marc Gasol:

“Marc has been a dedicated teammate, star player and pillar of this team for the past 11 seasons. He plays with a heart and a passion for the game that helped carry this franchise to seven straight playoff appearances, but what Marc has done for this organization is about more than just basketball. He was a part of a core group of players that helped shape the identity of this franchise on and off the court and were embraced by the City of Memphis. On behalf of the Grizzlies organization, I would like to thank him for his blood, sweat and dedication to the Grizzlies and Memphis. The impact he has had on this team and the city will live on, and we look forward to one day welcoming him back home to Memphis where his #33 jersey will hang in the rafters of FedExForum next to Zach and Tony.”

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Memphis Grizzlies release statement on Marc Gasol from controlling owner Robert Pera

The Memphis Grizzlies today announced that Chairman and Owner Robert Pera has appointed Memphis native Elliot Perry as Alternate Governor to the NBA’s Board of Governors.

Since retiring from professional basketball, Perry has committed his life to making a difference in the Memphis Community. Perry is a member of the Grizzlies local ownership group and serves on the board of seven organizations throughout the City of Memphis including Teach for America (TFA), Memphis Athletic Ministries (MAM), New Hope Christian Academy and the National Civil Rights Museum (NCRM). He also works with the Poplar Foundation as their Community Advisor, focusing on educational opportunities for youth and families in Memphis.

Perry’s passion for helping youth through education and mentorship is also reflected in his work with the Grizzlies Foundation. As Chairman of the Grizzlies Foundation Board, among other responsibilities, Perry works closely with students at Grizzlies Prep, the only charter middle school in the nation branded by a NBA team that serves more than 300 young men in grades 5-8. Since opening in July 2012, Grizzlies Prep has focused on accelerated reading, writing, science and mathematics programs, preparing young men for high school, college and their future careers. The school ranks in the top 5% of middle schools in the state of Tennessee, working with students who arrive predominantly with below grade level skills in various school subjects.

Each week, Perry meets with students at the school, acting as a mentor, building trust and relationships all in an effort to carry out the school’s mission: to develop and grow scholars academically, socially and emotionally. With core values of responsibility, integrity, courage, commitment, grit and excellence, Grizzlies Prep teaches scholars the meaning of these values and the importance of applying them to their daily lives.

 A graduate of Treadwell High School, Perry started every game in his four-year collegiate career with his hometown Memphis State Tigers and led his team to two NCAA Tournament berths, including a second round appearance in 1987, before graduating with a degree in marketing. Drafted in the second round (37th overall) of the 1991 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers, the Tennessee Sports Hall of Famer played 10 seasons in the NBA for seven different teams, including a stint with the Memphis Grizzlies in his final season (2001-02).

For more information on the Memphis Grizzlies, visit grizzlies.com, ‘like’ Memphis Grizzlies on Facebook or follow on Twitter (@memgrizz).

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Elliot Perry named Memphis Grizzlies’ Alternate Governor for the NBA Board of Governors

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The Memphis Grizzlies today announced that controlling owner Robert Pera has sent formal notice to the NBA that he will retain his controlling interest in the team in connection with the “buy-sell” process. This decision was shared earlier this evening in an open letter from Pera to Grizzlies MVP Season Ticket Members.

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Memphis Grizzlies controlling owner Robert Pera to retain controlling interest in team

While the Memphis Grizzlies are preparing to begin their  quest for a fifth consecutive playoff berth on the court, the Memphis Grizzlies  Charitable Foundation is already busy at work implementing their season  initiatives as they aim for another successful year off the court and the in  the community.

In fact, the continued success of the Grizzlies on the court  has made things easier for the Foundation as they go out into the community to  help wherever they can.

“I think one of the reason it makes things much easier is  that people want to be involved. It’s easier to get external people involved  when the team is going well,” said Grizzlies Foundation Chairman Elliot Perry.  “Also, we have a great group of players. There’s no question about that. These  players have heart. I’ve been on and around a lot of teams, and I’ve never seen  a team that has as many players doing things as we have. “

Since relocating to Memphis in 2001, the Foundation has  always made supporting mentoring and youth development programs a priority,  donating close to $40 million to help their programs and partners accomplish  their goals.

“We give tickets away, we give out resources, and those are  the easy parts,” said Perry. “As we were going over things with the Foundation, one of our thoughts was as to how we can really  make a tangible difference in the community. Not just money and not just time,  but also people. Out of that, we came up with mentoring.”

The Grizzlies Foundation is an official affiliate of MENTOR,  the National Mentoring Partnership, providing resources, leadership and in some  cases funding to more than 30 local programs in support of 1,000 mentors.

In addition, the Foundation continues its TEAM Mentoring  Program, matching nine middle school students with three volunteer adult  mentors who have committed to a sustained multi-year mentoring  relationship. 

“Our mission is to ensure every child in Memphis has the  opportunity to develop to his or her full potential,” said Diane Terrell,  executive director of the Grizzlies Foundation and Community Investment. “What distinguishes the Grizzlies Foundation  from other professional sports teams’ foundations is both our depth of  programming and, the infrastructure we’ve established to ensure those programs  are delivering on their promises to students and volunteers.”

Along  with their mentoring programs, the Grizzlies Foundation has worked with Memphis  Grizzlies controlling owner Robert Pera and the local ownership group to  significantly increase the organization’s investment in priority focus areas  supported by the Foundation, including increasing the number of high school  graduates prepared for success in college or career.

To  help accomplish this, Pera recently made a significant contribution to the  Grizzlies Foundation and his Ubiquiti Networks company continues to donate  resources and equipment to bring wireless access and upgraded technology to  schools, community centers, apartments and more across the Memphis area. 

"The  Ubiquiti products are proving to be great learning platform for the students engaged in enterprise-class deployments, while also providing significant access enhancements  for residents and businesses in the neighborhood,” said Terrell.

Also  this season, Pera is donating his personal floor seats next to the Grizzlies bench  for select games to reward high-performing students enrolled in STEM programs in the Greater Memphis area.

Along with mentoring and youth development, the Grizzlies  Foundation has aimed to boost the health and fitness of Memphis residents with  the recently established Riverfront Fitness Trail and Pop-Up Park at Tom Lee  Park downtown. 

"The  Memphis Grizzlies have been focused on improving the health and fitness of the  Memphis community, particularly children, since our very first season,” said  Terrell. “The Riverfront Fitness Trail and Pop-Up Park is a fun next step in  that journey, but one that remains rooted in our core principles of developing  a healthier, more active Memphis for everyone."

As the  tip-off of the 2014-15 NBA season grows closer, the focus will shift to the  on-court performance of the team. However, the Foundation has worked and  continues to work to make sure that the Grizzlies organization is measured by  more than just how the team performs in the race for a Western Conference  playoff spot. 

“I think you want to build an organization that is quality  on the court but also one is that high quality off the court,” said Perry.  “That people realize even though there’s a lot of focus on the team, it’s not  just about the record when it comes to a professional sports organization. “

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Grizzlies Foundation works to provide greater impact for Memphis youth

Our own Pete Pranica checks in with highlights from the first session of Grizzlies Training Camp in San Diego.

As Mike Conley walked to the waiting team bus outside RIMAC Arena on the campus of UCSD, I stopped him and asked him what the theme of the Grizzlies’ training camp was.

“Urgency,” he answered without hesitation.

It’s not much of a marketing tag line, but it is the whole and unvarnished truth for this Grizzlies team. A year ago in Nashville, the Grizzlies were coming off a Western Conference Finals appearance and entered camp on the Vanderbilt campus with touch of swagger and a comfort level.

Too much of a comfort level, it turned out. The Grizzlies had fits and starts out of the gate, and when they lost Marc Gasol for 23 games, they found themselves having to play for a standings deficit for much of the season. Memphis had to win a game on the road against the surprisingly tough Phoenix Suns to earn a playoff berth and then take out Dallas to escape a first-round match with the Spurs.

One of the toughest things to learn in sports is that last year’s accomplishments are exactly that – last year’s. The 2013-14 Grizzlies learned that almost too late in the game. The 2014-15 Grizzlies aren’t going to make the same mistake twice.

There was no easing into the first session at RIMAC Arena. There was a lot of running, competing and even a drill for taking charges. The cavernous RIMAC Arena allowed four sets of drills to be done concurrently, so there was very little standing around by anyone, especially the assistant coaches who kept the pace of the practice humming along.

There’s very little to conclude or to judge after one session, but the effort and attention to detail were in evidence – and that’s all you can ask as training camp starts.

One question that’s been asked is, “why San Diego?” The quick and easy answer is that Grizzlies controlling owner Robert Pera went to UCSD. In talking with Pera after the morning camp session, he shrugged off that association, preferring that people remember that the1992 Olympic Dream Team held practice sessions at RIMAC Arena. His largely unspoken hope was that some of the magic of Magic, Michael, Larry and company would infuse the Grizzlies’ training camp efforts 22 years later.

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Pete's Perspective: 2014 Training Camp Day 1

Memphis Grizzlies Controlling Owner Robert Pera will introduce General Manager Chris Wallace and Executive Vice President of Player Personnel Ed Stefanski at a press conference on Friday, Aug. 1 at 11 a.m. (CT) in the Don Poier Media Center at FedExForum. Head Coach Dave Joerger will also be on-hand to discuss the coaching staff and player development additions.

Wallace was named general manager on Monday, July 28, while Stefanski was hired as executive vice president of player personnel on Tuesday, July 29.

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Memphis Grizzlies to introduce Front Office additions at 11 a.m. press conference Friday, Aug. 1 at FedExForum

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