TWAN HELPS OUT BACK HOME DURING THE HOLIDAYS The Washington Wizards’ leading scorer and NBA’s reigning Six Man of the Year, Antawn Jamison, gave back in his hometown of Charlotte at Christmas for the third consecutive year. On December 20, Jamison spent around $5,000 to help sponsor the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s 2004 Explorer Christmas Project that provided holiday packages to over 650 needy families. Presents that Twan helped purchase for the Explorer Program The packages, which were delivered to the families by the Police, Fire Dept. and various volunteers, contained food, bicycles, gifts and flowers. The Police Explorer Program has executed this project for the last 30 years, but was having a hard time getting funding for last year's event. After being informed of the problems with donations, Jamison gave approximately $5,500 to almost entirely fund the project. This year he decided to continue to help carry on the tradition. On December 23rd, Jamison helped to fill the void left in Charlotte by George Shinn and the Hornets for the third consecutive year. Jamison spent around $3,500 to provide 300 pair of shoes for the men at the Uptown Shelter. Boots purchased by Jamison for the Uptown Shelter "It hurt me to think that there are people in my hometown who are cold and needy 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.” The shoe program and donation to the Explorer program are part of Jamison's ongoing "A Better Tomorrow" community service campaign that implements 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.