For immediate release: June 18, 2020

Tucson, Ariz. –  Tucson community leaders Bob and Beverely Elliott are joining the NBA Retired Players Association-Phoenix Chapter, led by President Lafayette “Fat” Lever, in spearheading an effort to bring the Tucson community together for a positive collaboration to support families in need.

Feed the Children, a leading nonprofit focused on alleviating childhood hunger, is providing four truckloads of food and household supplies that will be distributed at Kino Stadium to about 1,600 local families to help supplement relief efforts already underway throughout the community. Food and supplies will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis until supplies are gone.

“In these unprecedented times when our community is managing health fears, navigating economic distress and engaging in hard work around race relations – all at the same time – it’s important to remember that recovery starts with taking care of each other,” Bob Elliott said.

Elliott, a retired NBA player and president and owner of Elliott Accounting, serves as board chair for UNS Energy, TEP’s parent company. He organized a similar event in 2011.

Lafayette “Fat” Lever, a Pueblo High School graduate and NBA veteran states, “We know people are hurting. We know people want to help. This is a way to support both in a single event that helps unify Tucson,” Lever said.

• What: A drive-through, no-touch distribution of free non-perishable groceries and supplies.
• When: Thursday, June 25, 7 a.m.–10 a.m.
• Where: Kino Sports Complex, 2500 E. Ajo Way
• Who: Sponsored by Community Foundation for Southern Arizona, Tucson Electric Power, AAA Mountain West Group/ AAA Arizona, Elliott Family Charities, Abba’s Storehouse, AAA CSAA Insurance Group, Cox Communications, Family Housing Resources Cares, Tucson Subaru, Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, United Way of Southern Arizona and Feed the Children.
• Why: “No one should go hungry. At a time when our local nonprofits are stretching to meet record needs across our community, we need to come together to help those families most at risk,” said Beverely Elliott, who helps run Elliott Family Charities, is the governance chair of the National Basketball Wives Association, and is a member of the Tucson Chapter of the Links Incorporated.
• How to obtain food: Please remain in your vehicle and drive through one of three marked distribution lanes. Volunteers will place the emergency boxes in your trunk. If you’re not feeling well, please stay home and send a healthy friend or relative instead.
• How to give: The United Way of Southern Arizona and the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona are accepting donations for the event, as well as to meet ongoing needs in the community.

TEP provides safe, reliable electric service to approximately 429,000 customers in Southern Arizona. For more information, visit tep.com. TEP and its parent company, UNS Energy, are subsidiaries of Fortis Inc., which owns utilities that serve more than 3 million customers across Canada and in the United States and the Caribbean. For more information, visit fortisinc.com.