NABI History

2002

  • Mark West Vice President Players Programs /Phoenix Suns, Scott Podleski/Arizona Rattlers, and GinaMarie Scarpa/Former Executive Director/AC Green Youth Foundation form POD Productions, creators and organizers of the NABI tournament
  • Donnie Nunez joins NABI as Director of Games and Officiating
  • Jerry Colangelo/Owner of Phoenix Suns, endorses NABI

    • 2003

  • NABI debuted in July 2003 with the Phoenix Suns supporting and sponsoring the event
  • NABI immediately got the attention of global sporting apparel giant Nike and Nike becomes a major sponsor
  • NABI hosted 24 all Native American teams comprised of high school student athletes
  • Championship Games played at American West Arena, home of the Phoenix Suns
  • Tex G. Hall/President National Congress of American Indians becomes NABI’s Honorary Chairman
  • Ernie Stevens/President National Indian Gaming Association becomes NABI’s Honorary Vice-Chairman
  • NABI helped create opportunities for five NABI athletes to receive college scholarships
  • Chance Rush is selected to be NABI’s first Emcee and national spokes person

    • 2004

  • Ak-Chin Indian Community, Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community along with Phoenix area tribes sponsor NABI.
  • NABI hosted 45 all Native American teams.
  • Karl Jim/ Navajo of 21Native.com becomes official graphic and web designer of NABI
  • Championship Games played at American West Arena, home of the Phoenix Suns.
  • NABI is officially considered the largest all Native tournament in the U.S. & Canada
  • April 2004: NABI receives the “President’s Leadership Award” from NIGA
  • NABI creates another nine college scholarship opportunities

    • 2005

  • Fort McDowell becomes the title sponsor of NABI 2005
  • Nike, Ak-Chin Indian Community, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Seminole Tribe of Florida,local and national tribes commit again to sponsoring NABI.
  • NABI breaks a record of 97 teams applying in the first two weeks of tournament registration opening.
  • NABI hosted 64 all Native American teams
  • Championship Games played at American West Arena, home of the Phoenix Suns.
  • NABI is televised live on AZTV
  • NABI creates another six college scholarship opportunities
  • NABI donates $25,000 to the NABI Fund under the Arizona Community Foundation
  • NABI awards two grants to Native American students through the NABI Fund

    • 2006

  • Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community becomes NABI 2006 Title Sponsor and commits to playing host to NABI games.
  • NABI hosted 64 all Native American teams
  • Nike, Ak-Chin Indian Community & Fort McDowell again commit to sponsoring NABI
  • NABI awards five grants to Native American students & Native American scholarship funds through the NABI Fund
  • Championship games televised live on AZTV at U.S Airways Center, home of the Phoenix Suns, Saturday July 15, 2006.

    • 2007

  • NABI announces 2007 dates; July 8-14, 2007
  • Nike commits to NABI for 2007 along, with a new sponsor, Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians.
  • NABI announces it will seek NCAA Certification for the July 2007 tournament, making NABI the first all Native American tournament certified by the NCAA
  • Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community commit again to become title sponsor of NABI 2007
  • Vincent Portalla joins the NABI staff as Director of Programs
  • NABI hosts 86 teams (46 boys & 40 girls) for the 5th Anniversary tournament.
  • NABI implements “NABI Career & College Fair” for athletes participating in NABI 2007
  • Diana Taurasi /WNBA/Phoenix Mercury becomes NABI’s Honorary Commissioner
  • Through NABI’s urging, the NCAA announces that all Native American tournaments are exempt from the NCAA “same state rule”. A monumental advancement in protecting tribal sovereignty.
  • NABI becomes the first all Native American Tournament certified by the NCAA.
  • Legendary LSU Coach Dale Brown makes a speaking appear at NABI 2007
  • NABI continues to grant scholarship to NABI athletes through the NABI Fund
  • NABI Alumni & 2003 MVP Anthony Brown/Cheyenne Arapaho signs pro with Spain.

    • 2008

  • NABI announces Native American Baseball Invitational, in partnership with the Arizona Diamondbacks, to feature 16 boys’ baseball teams and 16 girls’ softball teams; July 2-6, 2008.
  • NABI will seek NCAA certification for the July 2008 basketball tournament; July 21-26, 2008
  • University of Phoenix becomes NABI 2008 title sponsor of NABI Basketball and Baseball
  • Nike commits to NABI for 2008
  • NABI hosts 80 teams (46 boys & 32 girls)
  • NABI donates $41,445.00 to Native American scholarship funds and national youth non-profits

    • 2009

  • NABI announces “Chasing the Sun 10K & Pow Wow”, in partnership with the Arizona Cardinals & University of Phoenix. First ever Pow Wow hosted a an NFL Stadium May 1-3.
  • NABI will again seek NCAA certification for the basketball tournament; July 7-11, 2009
  • Phoenix Sun Amar’e Stoudemire and Phoenix Mercury Diana Taurasi becomes NABI’s Honorary Commissioners.
  • NABI will again partner with the Arizona Diamondbacks to organize the Native American Baseball Invitational July 12-16, 2009
  • Launch NABI Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) youth organization: Create a scholarship fund & programs to serve Native American youth.
  • Nike N7 Fund donates $10,000 to the NABI Foundation

    • 2010

  • NABI hosts “Chasing the Sun 10K & Pow Wow”, in partnership with the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena, in Glendale, AZ. Sponsored by Ak-Chin Indian Community
  • NABI will seeks NCAA certification for the basketball tournament; July 6-10, 2010
  • NABI 2010 is dedicated in the memory of NABI Co-founder Scott Podleski
  • Grand Canyon University host GCU night for all NABI teams, featuring Extreme Snowboarder Lonnie Kauk
  • Former LA Laker and Phoenix Sun AC Green is NABI special guests at NABI Basketball Championship games
  • NABI partners with the Arizona Diamondbacks to organize the Native American Baseball Invitational  July 2010
  • NABI Co-founders gift NABI to the newly formed NABI Foundation
  • Tex G. Hall and Ernie Stevens Jr. elected to head up NABI Foundation as members of the Executive Board
  • Mark West/Phoenix Suns, Carolyn Sechler/Sechler CPA and Elaina West join NABI Foundation Board of Directors
  • GinaMarie Scarpa named NABI Foundation CEO
  • The official NABI Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) youth organization is in full operation:
  • NABI Foundation launched new website: www.nabifoundation.org
  • Nike N7 Fund donates $25,000 to the new NABI Foundation
  • Vincent Portalla joins NABI staff as Program Director
  • Ak-Chin Indian Community donated $125,000 to the new NABI Foundation
  • Grand Canyon University pledges $50,000 to the NABI Foundation for 2011
  • Rafael Tapia joins the NABI staff as Director of Development
  • NABI announces “Chasing the Sun 10K & Heath Expo”, presented by Ak-Chin Indian Community, Nike N7 and MERCK November 2011. To include a Social Pow Wow and Indian Market.
  • NABI announces 2011 Native American Basketball Invitational, in partnership with the Phoenix Suns, sponsored by Nike, N7, Ak-Chin Indian Community and Grand Canyon University  July 5-9, 2011
  • NABI adds Silver Division to 2011 Basketball Invitational
  • Roland Hemond/AZ Diamondbacks and Ray Artigue/Artigue Agency join NABI Foundation Board of Directors

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    2011

  • NABI partners with the Arizona Diamondbacks to organize the Native American Baseball & Softball Invitational July 20-23, 2011
  • NABI Basketball partners with the Phoenix Suns to organize NABI Basketball, presented by Nike, Ak-Chin Indian Community and Grand Canyon University on July 5-9, 2011. 92 teams register with representation from Alaska and Canada.
  • Ak-Chin Indian Community donates $50K to NABI Basketball
  • NABI Foundation launches “NABI Youth Physical Education Program” at Ak-Chin Indian Community
  • Nike N7 Fund donates $35,000 to the “NABI Youth Physical Education Program”
  • NABI Foundation launches “NABI Youth Motivational Presentations” in partnership with super star slam dunk artist Kenny “the Inventor” Dobbs. Program to focus on teen suicide prevention
  • Kenny “the Inventor” Dobbs becomes newest NABI Ambassador
  • Angelo Johnson joins the NABI staff as part-time Programs Assistant
  • NABI Basketball, in partnership with Kenny “the Inventor” Dobbs to host first Slam Dunk Contest at US Airways Center prior to championship games on Saturday July 9.
  • NABI Foundation honored at 2011 NIGA Conference, in Phoenix, AZ
  • Ak-Chin Indian Community donates $60K and becomes largest donor of the NABI Foundation
  • NABI joins the social network era and launches NABI Foundation Facebook and Twitter

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    2012

  • NABI Basketball, in partnership with the Phoenix Suns, will organize the 10th Anniversary of NABI Basketball, presented by Nike N7, Ak-Chin Indian Community and Grand Canyon University on July 11-15, 2012. To commemorate the anniversary and Arizona’s 100th Birthday, NABI goal is to register over 100 teams!
  • NABI in partnership with the Arizona Diamondbacks to organize the Native American Baseball & Softball Invitational July 2012.
  • NABI will host the Chasing the Sun 10K & Health Fair, presented by Ak-Chin Indian Community, Saturday March 31, 2012 in Phoenix, AZ.
  • NABI will host the 1st Annual NABI Native American Heritage Day Celebration, presented by Ak-Chin Indian Community, Friday November 30, 2012.