Jamison Shows Compassion for his Hometown Charlotte, NC ---- For the second consecutive year, Charlotte native and NBA superstar Antawn Jamison helped fill the void left in Charlotte by George Shinn and the Hornets. Prior to last year, New Orleans Hornets Owner George Shinn and members of the Hornets front office staff and their families spent Christmas Eve afternoon fitting and providing shoes for homeless men at the Uptown Men's Shelter on North Tryon Street in Charlotte. When Shinn and the Hornets moved to New Orleans, the shoe program seemed destined to become a thing of the past. Then Jamison, who plays for the Dallas Mavericks, decided to step in. "It hurt me to think that there are people in my hometown who are cold and sad at Christmas time," said Jamison. "I had heard about George Shinn and the Hornets' Christmas Shoe Program and wondered what would become of it when they left. When I found out that it would not continue without someone else's support, it wasn't a hard decision for me to step in and help out. I wish that I could have been there last year to pass the shoes out to the guys myself but my NBA schedule wouldnąt permit it." Jamison's Public Relations Manager, Livis Freeman, stood in on his behalf last year to help distribute the shoes. "Unfortunately, I was again unable to attend the event," says Jamison. "However, my parents were there this year to help out in my place. They are the ones who have always taught me the importance of giving back." On Monday, December 22, Antawn helped sponsor a program with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Explorer program that provided Christmas packages for about 700 needy families. The packages, which were delivered to the families by the Police, Fire Dept. and various volunteers, contained food, gifts and flowers. The Police Explorer Program had executed this project for the last 29 years, but was having a hard getting funding for this year's event. After being informed of the problems with donations, Antawn gave approximately $5,500 to fund half of the project. The shoe program and donation to the Explorer program were part of Jamison's ongoing "A Better Tomorrow" community service campaign launched last November to implement service projects in Charlotte that encourage academic success and assist citizens who are less fortunate. Antawn received the NBA's Community Assist Award in August 2003 for his efforts to better his community.