Aliso Viejo, California – Basketball brand AND1 has restructured its operating ambitions for the summer, delaying its Mixtape Tour to combine with not-for-profit organization, Project WE. The charitable guild was recently spawned to create opportunities for foster children through music, art, education, and sports.

Financial backing from AND1 has proved critical in giving WE the opportunity to mature rapidly and facilitate events for the nation’s needy children. Jeff Penix, Project WE’s cofounder explains, “AND1’s dynamic support for Project WE has served as an essential lifeline in helping launch the organization during an economic recession. Having such a well established sporting goods company on board gives us strong credibility and really adds to the experience for the children we work with.”

Rod Keller, Director of Sports Marketing at AND1, believes the decision to shelve the Mixtape Tour was important for reasons that extend beyond basketball. “As such a recognizable part of the AND1 brand it was a very hard call to put the tour on hold this year, but with cash flow tight throughout the country we felt as a brand it would be more responsible to use the money needed to produce the tour by supporting philanthropic endeavors that aren’t getting the contributions they need to survive due to the current economic conditions.”

The AND1 team will continue to perform globally this summer. Here’s to hoping the squad makes a fruitful return to the States in 2010!

For more, head over to AND1.com.