Miami SOL Center Ruth Riley has been named a Hometown Hero for 2002 by the Florida Sports Awards for her commitment and dedication to the South Florida community. Riley is one of 17 athletes selected for the honor and is nominated for the Jasper Award for Hometown Hero of the Year. Honoring the professional athletes throughout Florida with the most outstanding contributions within their communities, the Jasper Award winners will be announced on Saturday, June 8, at the seventh annual Florida Sports Awards at the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts in Jacksonville, Fla. The ceremony is broadcast live throughout the state on Sunshine Network.

Riley, the SOL’s starting center and 2001 NCAA Player of the Year, spent the WNBA off-season in South Florida making more than 50 community appearances while working with programs such as WNBA Read to Achieve, the Dade County Alliance Against Domestic Violence, WNBA Breast Health Awareness, the Miami Rescue Mission, the United Way of Broward County and the SOL Reading Rockhouse. Riley recently received the 2001 NCAA Today’s Top VIII Award, which recognizes student-athletes who excel not only in their respective sport, but also for strong academic achievement, character, and leadership qualities.

Miami HEAT center Alonzo Mourning tops the list of other Hometown Heroes. Miami Dolphin Twan Russell, Florida Marlin Preston Wilson, Florida Panther Peter Worrell, WTA Tour player Venus Williams and former Miami Fusion player Chris Henderson are the other South Florida Hometown Heroes. Brooke Wyckoff of the Orlando Miracle is the other WNBA winner. Other Hometown Heroes include Andy Roddick (ATP), Donovin Darius (Jacksonville Jaguars), Dottie Pepper (LPGA Tour), Grant Hill (Orlando Magic), Len Mattiace (PGA Tour), John Lynch (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Greg Vaughn (Tampa Bay Devil Rays), Jassen Cullimore (Tampa Bay Lightning) and Ali Curtis (Tampa Bay Mutiny).

Earlier this year, the Florida Sports Awards selected the Miami SOL as one of three finalists for the Jasper for 2001 Professional Team of the Year. In addition, SOL standouts Sheri Sam and Elena Baranova are Jasper nominees in the category of Professional Women’s Basketball Player of the Year for 2001.

The Florida Sports Awards, a not-for-profit organization, is the official sports awards show for the state of Florida. The organization presents Jaspers to honor the top sports performances of the year on the First Coast and the top professional athletes, coaches and teams in the entire state each June. Proceeds from the Florida Sports Awards benefit underprivileged youth charities across Florida, including the Otis F. Smith Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that provides programs and services to underprivileged youth in North Florida. For more information, visit www.jaspers.com.