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Basketball legend Phil Jackson, coach of the L.A. Lakers, will return to the valley for a Swift Eagle Charitable Foundation fundraiser on Sept. 13, at 4 Eagle Ranch in Wolcott.
Coach of 10 NBA championship teams and a basketball Hall of Famer, Jackson will be the keynote speaker at “An Evening with Phil Jackson”, which includes a silent auction and dinner for general admission ticketholders, as well as a private reception with Jackson for those purchasing sponsorships.
The purpose of the event is to raise money for Swift Eagle, a local, grass roots organization dedicated to helping those with critical needs in Eagle County.
Swift Eagle was founded in 2004 by 19 long time locals in response to a dream David Haakenson had about starting a charitable foundation and calling it Swift Eagle. The name Swift Eagle reminded him of Jackson, his lifelong friend.
Haakenson and Jackson had grown up together in Williston, N. D., where Haakenson played guard to Jackson's center on the state championship basketball team. Haakenson knew that in the 1970's, Jackson was coaching at a kid's basketball camp on the Lakota Indian Reservation in South Dakota and had been given the name ‘Swift Eagle' in a naming ceremony. He mentioned the dream to Jackson, who subsequently became the foundation's honorary chairman.
In 2005, Jackson spoke for the group's first fundraiser, a sold out event at 4 Eagle Ranch. Attendees remember the evening as one of special intimacy and inspiration-accompanied by a wild thunder and lightning storm.
After graduating from Williston High School, the 6'9” Jackson went on to win All-American honors at the University of North Dakota and played 13 years in the NBA, mainly with the New York Knicks. The Knicks won two NBA titles during his tenure there.
He coached in the Puerto Rican summer league, the CBA, where he won a championship, and then went on to coach the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships. After taking a year off from coaching, Jackson became the coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, where he has added four more championship rings to his collection.
Now, with 10 championship rings, he holds the record as a coach for winning the most NBA championships. His illustrious career includes coaching stars such as Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal and Dennis Rodman.
Sponsorships, which include tickets to a private reception with Jackson, are available at varying levels. Call David Haakenson at 970-845-7655 or email info@swifteagle.org for more information. General admission tickets are $125 each and can be purchased from Haakenson or Ginny Snowdon, 970-949-5279, vhsnowdon@aol.com.
Further information, including grant application requirements and forms, is available at www.swifteagle.org.
Coach of 10 NBA championship teams and a basketball Hall of Famer, Jackson will be the keynote speaker at “An Evening with Phil Jackson”, which includes a silent auction and dinner for general admission ticketholders, as well as a private reception with Jackson for those purchasing sponsorships.
The purpose of the event is to raise money for Swift Eagle, a local, grass roots organization dedicated to helping those with critical needs in Eagle County.
Swift Eagle was founded in 2004 by 19 long time locals in response to a dream David Haakenson had about starting a charitable foundation and calling it Swift Eagle. The name Swift Eagle reminded him of Jackson, his lifelong friend.
Haakenson and Jackson had grown up together in Williston, N. D., where Haakenson played guard to Jackson's center on the state championship basketball team. Haakenson knew that in the 1970's, Jackson was coaching at a kid's basketball camp on the Lakota Indian Reservation in South Dakota and had been given the name ‘Swift Eagle' in a naming ceremony. He mentioned the dream to Jackson, who subsequently became the foundation's honorary chairman.
In 2005, Jackson spoke for the group's first fundraiser, a sold out event at 4 Eagle Ranch. Attendees remember the evening as one of special intimacy and inspiration-accompanied by a wild thunder and lightning storm.
After graduating from Williston High School, the 6'9” Jackson went on to win All-American honors at the University of North Dakota and played 13 years in the NBA, mainly with the New York Knicks. The Knicks won two NBA titles during his tenure there.
He coached in the Puerto Rican summer league, the CBA, where he won a championship, and then went on to coach the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships. After taking a year off from coaching, Jackson became the coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, where he has added four more championship rings to his collection.
Now, with 10 championship rings, he holds the record as a coach for winning the most NBA championships. His illustrious career includes coaching stars such as Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal and Dennis Rodman.
Sponsorships, which include tickets to a private reception with Jackson, are available at varying levels. Call David Haakenson at 970-845-7655 or email info@swifteagle.org for more information. General admission tickets are $125 each and can be purchased from Haakenson or Ginny Snowdon, 970-949-5279, vhsnowdon@aol.com.
Further information, including grant application requirements and forms, is available at www.swifteagle.org.
