On Tuesday, April 24, Pistons players Antonio McDyess, Lindsey Hunter and Ronald Dupree, along with Pistons staff will join local Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County volunteers to build a home being sent to a family in Hattiesburg, MS. Once completed, the ten homes will be sent to families in the Gulf Coast who are rebuilding their lives following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

Last year, as part of the NBA Cares initiative, the NBA, NBPA and TNT joined Habitat for Humanity volunteers and families to build several homes around the country. Homes were built during NBA All-Star 2006 in Houston, as part of the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets “Hoops for Homes” program and an additional home was constructed in Los Angeles during the 2006 NBA Playoffs.

“We are pleased to partner with the NBA Players Association and with Turner Sports to build on our relationship with Habitat for Humanity. We know how important it is to lend a hand so that families can fulfill the dream of owning their own home,” said Kathy Behrens, SVP NBA Community and Player Programs. “Every member of the NBA Family, who has taken part in a build, has been greatly affected by the work and dedication of the volunteers and the families.”

“TNT is proud to roll up our sleeves alongside our partners at the NBA and NBA Players Association to assist Habitat for Humanity in rebuilding the homes of those displaced by Hurricane Katrina,” said David Levy, president of Turner Sports. “Rebuilding the Gulf Coast will require a myriad of resources, contributions and manpower, and we are committed to help join in the effort once again this year.”

“In the wake of Katrina the union and the players wanted to demonstrate a long term commitment to the recovery effort and assisting the people who need it most,” said NBPA Executive Director William Hunter. “The partnership with Habitat for Humanity will help rebuild the homes and lives of families in a way that NBA players, the NBA and TNT can be proud of now and in the future.”

“Building upon their previous involvement in Habitat's work, the NBA and the NBA Players Association have now extended their commitment to families in need of decent homes--especially those families so severely impacted by Hurricane Katrina,” says Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. “We deeply value TNT's involvement, as well, and this relationship clearly demonstrates the leadership with which they, the NBA and its’ players manifest their drive to strengthen the communities, in which they work, play and live.”

Habitat for Humanity assists families with a hand up, not a hand out by requiring Habitat homeowners to invest hundreds of hours of “sweat equity” to help build their home or the homes of others in the program, and repay a no-profit mortgage. Habitat strives to achieve its goal of eliminating poverty housing and making decent, affordable homes a reality for low-income families.

Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in Americus, Ga., in 1976, Habitat has built more than 225,000 houses in nearly 100 countries, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than one million people. For more information, visit www.habitat.org.

NBA Cares is the league's social responsibility initiative that builds on the NBA's long tradition of addressing important social issues in the United States and around the world. During the first year of NBA Cares, teams, current and former players, and the league office contributed 250,000 hours of hands-on service to the community, raised more than $40 million for charity, and created 146 places where kids and families can live, learn or play.

The National Basketball Players Association created "Operation Rebound" in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in August, 2005. As one of the first professional sports organization to announce a financial contribution to the Gulf Coast hurricane relief effort, an initial $2.5 million dollar contribution has been supplemented many times over through the contributions of individual players. As part of its’ Hurricane relief efforts, the NBPA has been responsible for the distribution of hundreds of tractor trailers of food and relief supplies in venues stretching across Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. The NBPA works closely with a variety of relief organizations including Habitat for Humanity in delivering much needed assistance throughout the Gulf Coast and beyond.

Turner Sports, Inc., a Time Warner company, presents some of the best and most popular sporting events worldwide and is a leader in televised sports programming. With events airing on TBS and TNT, Turner Sports’ line-up includes the NBA, NASCAR and NASCAR.COM, Major League Baseball, college football, professional golf, PGATour.com and PGA.com.