MILWAUKEE—Fiserv said it has partnered with the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks and Nancy Lieberman Charities to construct a “Dream Court” in Milwaukee’s Sherman Park neighborhood, Fiserv announced.
The Bucks, who are the reigning NBA champions and who play in Fiserv Forum, announced the donation as part of what the organizations said is their commitment to the local community.
“Sports have a way of bringing people together — we saw it this summer as the people of Milwaukee roared the Bucks to victory in the NBA Finals and celebrated that historic achievement,” said Peter Feigin, president of the Milwaukee Bucks and Fiserv Forum. “Bringing a Dream Court to Sherman Park allows us to connect with the youngest members of our community and make a difference in their lives in a tangible way.”
The Sherman Park Dream Court is high school regulation size, 50-by-84 feet, with two new basketball goals. It features a high-performance PowerGame surface from Sport Court in gray and black, with the Dream Courts logo as its centerpiece and the Milwaukee Bucks and Fiserv brands featured on both halves of the court, according to the organizations.
“It was a dream for me to play on a court when I was growing up in Brooklyn,” said Basketball Hall of Famer and two-time Olympian, Nancy Lieberman, founder of Nancy Lieberman Charities. “Working with Fiserv, we will ensure more of America’s youth have a healthy space in their community, providing them the keys to success, confidence and self-esteem.”
Existing Connection
Fiserv noted it has an existing connection to Sherman Park through its Back2Business program, which it describes as a multi-pronged initiative to strengthen small, minority owned businesses through financial support, business expertise, leading technology solutions, strategic partnerships and community engagement.
Fiserv reported it has awarded nearly 150 grants to Milwaukee-area businesses through the program, including to Confectionately Yours, a retail bakery, and Lush Popcorn, a gourmet popcorn company, both based at Sherman Phoenix, Fiserv said.
“The Bucks, Fiserv and Nancy Lieberman Charities share a commitment to community, economic empowerment, and diversity in communities across the country,” said Frank Bisignano, president and CEO of Fiserv. “Fiserv has deep roots in Milwaukee, and we are committed to continuing to give back. With local excitement for basketball at an all-time high due to the Bucks’ fantastic championship victory, this is the perfect time to bring a Dream Court to the city.”
More Than 100 Courts Built
According to the organizations, since the inception of the Dream Courts program in 2010, more than 100 courts have been installed across the United States to make basketball more accessible to children and provide an environment for them to play. Over three million youth play on Dream Courts in the U.S., with each court serving approximately 120 youth per day and helping to improve the lives of over 3.6 million children a year, Fiserv noted.