Philadelphia, PA, February 20, 2008 – Maccabi USA/Sports for Israel is pleased to announce the appointment of Dana and David Pump as Co-Chairmen of the USA Open Men’s Basketball Team which will compete at the 18th World Maccabiah Games in Israel in July, 2009. The head coach for the Team will be Bruce Pearl, Head Coach of the University of Tennessee Volunteers.
Their love of basketball led to the foundation of their inaugural basketball day camp, in Northbridge, CA when they were just 16 years of age. The Pump brothers have built a career out of their love for basketball and philanthropy.? They founded Double Pump Basketball, in 1989, to provide service-based products specifically targeting collegiate athletes and the grass roots sports industry.? The company founded the Harold Pump Foundation in 1999 to raise money for cancer research.? ?
One of the top priorities that the Pumps will focus on as Co-Chairmen for the Open Men’s Basketball Team are conducting try-outs to recruit the top basketball players from around the country to represent the United States at the World Maccabiah Games.? They will also organize the training camp for the Team, prior to their departure for Israel in July, 2009.? When asked how they felt about the appointment, the shared response was, “Being raised Jewish, this is an incredibly humbling and inspiring moment for us.” Dana and David Pump continued, “This is a great opportunity for us to use our gifts and passion for basketball to work with Maccabi USA and the World Maccabiah Games.”
Athletes interested in trying out for the Team must first fill out an application, available athttps://maccabiusa.com/.? Try-outs are tentatively scheduled for the Fall of 2008.?
About the organization:
Maccabi USA/Sports for Israel (MUSA) has an extensive history of enriching Jewish lives through athletic, cultural and educational programs.? The organization is the official sponsor of the United States Team to the World Maccabiah Games, the Pan American Maccabi Games and the Maccabi competitions in Europe and Australia, as well as a co-founder of the JCC Maccabi Games for teens in North America.? As the official Maccabi representative in the U.S., Maccabi USA supports Jewish athletic endeavors, enhanced by cultural and educational activities in the United States, Israel and throughout the Diaspora.
MUSA develops, promotes and supports international, national and regional athletic-based activities and facilities.? We strive to provide Jewish athletes the world over, the opportunity to share their heritage and customs in competitive athletic settings.? We support programs that embody the Maccabi ideals of Jewish continuity, Zionism and excellence in sport.?
“Now more than ever, we need to get involved and committed? to building a proud Jewish Identity among our young people in the U.S., Israel and the Diaspora,” stated Ron Carner, General Chairman, USA Maccabiah Team. “The Maccabiah (Games) is not just about sports, but about providing for these young people a Jewish awareness of who they are, where they come from and where they are going.”
The World Maccabiah Games are a quadrennial event that takes place in Israel.? The 18th World Maccabiah Games, scheduled for July 13 – 23, 2009 will be the world’s third largest international athletic competition.? Over 9000 of the world’s best Jewish athletes from six continents and over 60 countries will compete at the Games.