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WNBA honors Tamika Catchings with leadership award

Tamika Catchings, a four-time Olympic gold medalist and former basketball star at Stevenson High School, will receive the WNBA's Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award for her exceptional contributions in 2015, league officials announced Tuesday.

It's the second time the honor has been given to Catchings, who is retiring from the WNBA at the end of this season, which is her 15th with the Indiana Fever.

“From her rookie year to her final season, Tamika has been a true leader on and off the court,” said WNBA president Lisa Borders. “Tamika's passion for the game and her dedication to the community has inspired Fever fans across Indiana and WNBA fans around the world.”

Through her Catch the Stars Foundation, Catchings, a former resident of Buffalo Grove, strives to empower youth to achieve their dreams through programs that promote literacy, fitness and mentoring. Her foundation provided free backpacks and school supplies to more than 600 students in need.

“How fitting that we again honor Tamika Catchings with this award in her final season in the WNBA,” said WNBA legend and University of South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley. “Her dedication to her community has been just as strong as her commitment to the game of basketball, and countless young people are better off because of both. The beauty of Tamika is that the end of her basketball career only means more time for her to continue her outstanding work in the community. For that, she will continue to be an inspiration to me and so many others.”

The WNBA will make a $10,000 donation to Catch the Stars Foundation on behalf of Catchings.

“It's important for me to give back to the community because there are so many kids that aspire to be where we are,” said Catchings. “Our mission with Catch the Stars Foundation is to prepare our youth to catch their dreams one star at a time, and I'm fully engaged in helping to open up doors for all of our youth and anyone that I come in contact with.”

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