An old Bucks fan favorite will grace Milwaukee yet again, as UPAF today announced that dunk-tastic Desmond Mason will serve as one of the three co-chairs for this year's UPAF Ride for the Arts, sponsored by Miller Lite. Current Bucks president Peter Feigin and Craig Robinson, the vice president of player and organizational development, round out the trio of co-chairs for the event, hosted on Sunday, June 4.
A strong Milwaukee advocate, Mason played for the Bucks for four seasons, arriving in 2002 and averaging a career high 17.2 points per game in the 2004-5 season, before being traded to the New Orleans Hornets in 2005 for Jamaal Magloire. Two seasons later, he rejoined the Bucks, only to be traded in a three-team deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
After his playing days, however, Mason found success as an artist – during his college days at Oklahoma State University, he studied studio arts – with exhibits all over the globe and among high-profile collectors such as George Clooney, Joe Buck, Kevin Durant, Herb Kohl and more. He also supports the Athletes for Art organization, working with inner-city youth and students to help them express themselves through art.
"By supporting the UPAF Ride for the Arts, you are supporting our children’s futures and fostering a creative community that will benefit the region as a whole," Mason said in a press release. "I think getting young people interested in the arts means restoring resources to arts in education funding, important initiatives that UPAF dollars support."
As a part of their roles as co-chairs for the UPAF Ride for the Arts, Mason, Feigin and Robinson will help promote the event and appear in a new television PSA.
This year's Ride for the Arts – featuring five different routes for riders of all ages and experience levels – will start and finish at Summerfest's south gate, with the three longest routes (25, 45 and 70 miles) crossing the Hoan Bridge. Ride registration is currently open; for more information on pricing, routes and more, visit UPAF's website.
