Charlie Villanueva

About me:

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Name: Charlie A. Villanueva
Birth Place: Queens, NYC
Birth Date: 08/24/84
Position: Forward
College: Connecticut
NBA: Detroit Pistons

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BIOGRAPHY

Charlie Villanueva is a first-generation Hispanic American, son of Dominican immigrants, Roberto Villanueva and Dora Mejia, born August 24, 1984 and raised in Queens, NY. Villanueva an NBA player for the Milwaukee Bucks was drafted at the age of 20, seventh overall (lottery selection) in the 2005 NBA Draft by the Toronto Raptors. Charlie Villanueva, best known as “Charlie V.”, enjoyed a successful rookie season, averaging 13.0 points and 6.4 rebounds. He ranked second among all rookies in points and rebounds, and third in blocks and minutes. The 6’10” forward set Toronto franchise rookie single-game records for points (48) and rebounds (18). His rookie campaign was further highlighted by an appearance in the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge at Houston All-Star Weekend, as well as NBA Rookie of the Month honors for the month of December 2005 and a spot on the All-NBA Rookie First Team.

He attended high school at Newtown in his hometown of Queens for his freshmen year, where he played with NBA player Smush Parker, before transferring to Blair Academy in Blairstown, NJ during his sophomore year, where he played with NBA player Luol Deng and earned All-American honors as a senior, as well as New Jersey Co-Player of the Year. He entered the NBA Draft in 2003, but decided to withdraw his eligibility to attend college at the University of Connecticut.

In his first year at UConn, Villanueva was named to the Big East All-Rookie Team and was a member of the remarkable 2004 NCAA Men's Basketball National Champions. This championship declared NCAA history as UConn became the only school to ever win both men’s and women’s tournament championship in the same season. In the summer of 2004, Villanueva was a member of the gold medal-winning United States 21-and-under team at the World Championships. Villanueva attended the University of Connecticut for two seasons before becoming an early entry candidate for the 2005 NBA Draft. Villanueva made the announcement during a press conference at Gampel Pavilion where he was joined by UConn Hall of Fame Head Coach Jim Calhoun. He was the Huskies leading scorer in his sophomore season, averaging 13.6 points and 8.3 rebounds receiving team MVP and 2nd Team All-Big East honors.

He played his best ball down the stretch in 2004-05, averaging 18.2 points and 9.7 rebounds over the final ten games of the season and averaging 19.0 points and 9.5 rebounds during the NCAA Tournament. Villanueva led the team with 12 double-doubles on the year. Villanueva is the eighth UConn player to declare early for the NBA Draft, joining Donyell Marshall (1994), Ray Allen (1996), Richard Hamilton (1999), Khalid El-Amin (2000), Caron Butler (2002), Ben Gordon (2004) and Emeka Okafor (2004). Villanueva’s most notable professional highlight was recorded on the night of March 26, 2006, where he set a career high and Raptors franchise rookie record for points in a game with 48 versus the Milwaukee Bucks. Charlie Villanueva's 48 points was the fourth highest performance ever by a rookie. He joins an elite class of athletes: Allen Iverson (50 pts - 1997), Michael Jordan (49 pts - 1985), and Kelly Tripucka (49pts - 1992). Villanueva was voted second in the running for the 2005-06 Rookie of the Year award, finishing second behind Chris Paul.

On June 30, 2006, Charlie Villanueva was traded by the Toronto Raptors to the Milwaukee Bucks for point guard T.J. Ford and cash considerations. And on July 8, 2009, Villanueva was signed to a 5-year contract with the Detroit Pistons.

Villanueva suffers from an autoimmune skin condition called alopecia areata which affects over 5 million North Americans. Alopecia results in hair loss on the scalp and elsewhere on the body, but the disease is not otherwise life-threatening or harmful, nor contagious. Villanueva is the Spokesperson for the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF) to help others growing up with the same condition. In March 2006, the NBA recognized his efforts by giving him the prestigious league's Community Assist Award for the month of February. He also received the Community MVP award by the Toronto Raptors in October 2005 and again in November 2005. Villanueva further highlighted his philanthropist efforts by receiving the NBA Community Assist Award yet again in August 2008, primarily for his international support in the Dominican Republic. Charlie started a new footwear donation program, under The Charlie Villanueva Foundation, called Tenis Para Ninos, where the program launched with a vast donation of 10,000 pairs of shoes to needy children in the Dominican Republic. Charlie remains actively involved in numerous community efforts and his give back passion is what defines his care into constructive differentiation.

He wears number 31 in salute of his favorite player of all time Reggie Miller.

Contact Management: rob@cv31.com
Representation: Jeff Schwartz, Excel Sports Management

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THE CHARLIE VILLANUEVA FOUNDATION

The Charlie Villanueva Foundation (CVF) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, established in the United States and Canada, with three main areas of focus: supporting programs that help eliminate bullying, assisting families affected by Alopecia Areata, as well as assisting families in thepoverty-stricken Dominican Republic. The CVF intends to create outlets of self-expression and growth through education, literacy, health, recreational activities and sports with an emphasis on youth.

The CVF has a partnership with the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF) to develop charitable activities and enforce a range of supportive programs to benefit children and their families affected by Alopecia Areata. Charlie Villanueva is the national spokesperson for the NAAF and has had alopecia universalis since the age 12.

In addition, the CVF has expressed urgent international attention to fight poverty through supportive educational programs, social welfare and health services for indigent children and their families in the Dominican Republic, striving for better community development. The CVF is committed to expanding their outreach to impact individuals in the United States and abroad.