PITTSBURGH -The Pittsburgh Xplosion professional basketball team is conducting a Slam Dunk Exhibition and holding their official practice session for troubled children at the Pressley Ridge Day School. The Slam Dunk Exhibition will be held from 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. on February 22, 2007 at 530 Marshall Avenue on Pittsburgh’s North Side.

“Our organization is committed to reaching out to children and families in our communities,” stated Freddie Lewis, majority owner and general manager of the Pittsburgh Xplosion. “Many of our players are from urban environments and can identify with the many challenges facing today’s youth.”

The Pressley Ridge Day School/Partial Hospitalization program provides intensive, relatively short-term educational and therapeutic services. Its program serves youth who have displayed severe emotional and behavioral difficulties in school. Many students have psychiatric diagnoses such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and mood disorders.

“We are thrilled that our children will have an opportunity to meet with professional basketball players who are role models in the communities,” stated program director, Lynne Boley. “Our students had to demonstrate academic and behavior achievements to attend the exhibition, so they are extremely proud to meet the players because they earned the right to participate in this event.”

In addition, the Pittsburgh Xplosion will sign autographs and conduct practice drills with Pressley Ridge’s student basketball team named The Patriot’s.

For more information, please contact Jim Schuyler at (412) 872-9413.