Maurice Lucas Foundation Raises More Than $500,000 For Underserved Portland-Area Youth

LAKE OSWEGO, OR — A charity dinner and golf tournament last month raised more than $500,000 for the Maurice Lucas Foundation, a Lake Oswego-based nonprofit that supports underserved youth in the Portland metro area.

The benefit dinner on Sept. 22 at the Portland Hilton was attended by roughly 600 people, who together raised $450,000 for after-school education, mentoring and sports programs, and the Howard Hedinger College Scholarship Fund. The Celebrity Golf Tournament at Reserve Golf Course in Aloha on Sept. 23 raised an additional $70,000.

"These funds will enable us to continue providing life-changing opportunities for underserved middle school students," Foundation Executive Director David Lucas said in a statement. "Our foundation stands as a continuance of my father's dedication to helping kids learn, achieve, grow and build positive values. The Maurice Lucas Foundation is proud to carry on his work."

Maurice Lucas was the starting forward for the Portland Trail Blazers when the team won the NBA championship in 1977. Following his death in 2010, the Lucas family established the foundation to carry on Maurice's legacy of assisting Portland youth and giving back to local charity organizations.

Among the seventh annual celebration dinner guests were current and former Trail Blazers, including Bill Walton, Bobby Gross, Lloyd Neal, Lionel Hollins, Corky Calhoun, coach Terry Stotts, Damian Lillard, C.J. McCollum, Noah Vonleh, and Pat Connaughton, as well as announcers Bill Schonely and Michael Holton. Nike executive Larry Miller was presented with the Maurice Lucas Enforcer Award for embodying Lucas' mission to help motivate and empower kids, David Lucas said.

The 14th annual golf event saw 115 golfers compete alongside more former Trail Blazers, such as Brian Grant, T.R. Dunn, Michael Harper, and Terry Porter.

Top Photo: David Lucas (left), Lionel Hollins (second from left) and Bill Walton (right) present the Maurice Lucas Enforcer Award to Nike executive Larry Miller at the Maurice Lucas Foundation gala Sept. 22 in Portland. Courtesy: Maurice Lucas Foundation