NEWPORT NEWS, VA., June 30 – With a gift of $100,000, Nuggets guard Allen Iverson has established an endowment with the Peninsula Community Foundation of Virginia, Inc. to support local youth initiatives. In the spirit of the Youth Promise Act, legislation sponsored by Congressman Bobby Scott of Newport News, Iverson will focus future charitable gifts from his endowment toward supporting local programs which encourage youth to stay in school, and prevent gang violence and drug involvement. Additionally, the endowment will support another Gun Buy Back program with the Newport News Police Department.

Iverson’s personal manager, Gary Moore states, “Allen recognizes that our community’s youth need programs that will help them on a daily basis to stay in school and away from drugs and gangs”. Iverson states, "I remember growing up in Newport News and Hampton and if this effort prevents one child from being killed and prevents one mother from crying and mourning the death of her child, then it is more than worth it,"

Iverson gets his inspiration from his family, his wife Tawanna, who is expecting their 5th child, and their children, Tiaura, Allen II, Isaiah, and Messiah. With this new endowment and in partnership with the Peninsula Community Foundation of Virginia, Inc., Allen’s gift will foster and sustain the dreams of our community’s youngest citizens in need and help them realize their potential to succeed.

Iverson has a continuous and proven track record of giving back to communities across the United States. For example, in addition to sponsoring Virginia Peninsula charitable programs, Iverson has established endowed scholarships for potential students from the Hampton Roads area at Johnson C. Smith University and Bowie State University, as well as a scholarship program at St. Augustine's College. He has also supported the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Iowa, the Warren Village in Denver, CO, a program for homeless single mothers, as well as the Mid-Summer Nights Dream in Los Angeles, CA.

For more information about Iverson’s gift or to learn more about how you can give back through your local community foundation, please call Jana Murphy Kast, Executive Director, Peninsula Community Foundation of Virginia, Inc. at (757) 327-0862 or visit www.pcfvirginia.org.