Keith Kountz, News Channel 8 Anchor, Named Honorary Event Chair of United Way NFL Players Weekend

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 8, 2008

Media Contact: Michelle Wade

203.772.2010, Ext.202
mwade@uwgnh.org

March 10-11, 2006 - New Haven

Keith Kountz, well known news anchor on News Channel 8 and UPN 9, has been named honorary event Chair of the 13th annual United Way NFL Players Weekend to take place March 10th – 11th in New Haven.

NFL players from 15 teams will arrive in New Haven on March 10th for a weekend of events and community service projects. United Way of Greater New Haven, in conjunction with J.L. Sports, will host the 13th Annual NFL Players Weekend, where 25 NFL Players from 15 teams are expected to attend.

Players will participate in weekend long community service activities including honoring the New Haven Police and Fire Departments, visits to Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital and the Boy’s and Girl’s Club of New Haven as well as facilitating a youth health and fitness clinic at Yale.

There will also be some events that are available to the public including a Celebrity Bartending Happy Hour Friday evening from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m., at Hula Hank’s Island Bar at 216 Crown Street in New Haven. Or join the players later that evening for dinner, dancing and bidding at the annual Celebrity Auction to be held in the Omni New Haven Hotel ballroom. Items such as signed sports memorabilia, an African Safari Vacation package, Romantic getaways, Gourmet packages and more will be available for bidding at this gala event. Tickets for the NFL Celebrity Auction are still available and can be purchased for $50 in advance and at the door. Please call Kathleen Norwood at United Way of Greater New Haven at 772-2010 ext. 213, or log onto http://www.uwgnh.org/.

Finally, on Saturday night you and three friends can “Bowl with the Pros” at AMF Lanes in Hamden, where NFL players will be available to autograph their photos from 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. and then bowling until 10 p.m. Companies or group can “bowl with a pro” by sponsoring a lane. For more information please call Kathleen Norwood at United Way of Greater New Haven at 772-2010 ext. 213, or log onto http://www.uwgnh.org/.

All proceeds from the weekend benefit United Way of Greater New Haven and the work they do in Greater New Haven.

Among NFL Players expected to attend are former New England Patriot Joe Andruzzi, who now plays for the Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots’ Brandon Gorin, Dan Koppen and Russ Hochstein as well as Chukky Okobi and Russell Stuvaints from this year’s Super Bowl Champions, the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Visit www.uwgnh.org/nfl.cfm for a full weekend schedule and up to the minute player and auction news.

Event sponsors include The New Haven Register, Clear Channel, News Channel 8 and UPN 9, Stop and Shop and UHY.

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JOE ANDRUZZI OF THE CLEVELAND BROWNS NAMED UNITED WAYPLAYER OF THE YEAR AT NFL PLAYERS WEEKEND

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 8, 2006

Media Contact: Michelle Wade

203.772.2010, Ext.202
mwade@uwgnh.org

13TH Annual United Way NFL Players Weekend Draws over 25 Pro Celebrities

United Way of Greater New Haven will honor former New England Patriot Joe Andruzzi as Player of the Year at this weekend’s Celebrity Auction, sponsored by Stop & Shop. Andruzzi, a graduate of Southern Connecticut State University and member of three New England Patriots Super Bowl Championship teams (2001, 2003, 2004), has participated in almost every Players Weekend and has helped draw other NFL players to the event. As a thank you for his dedication both on and off the field, United Way will recognize him during the auction taking place on Friday, March 10th from 6:00pm – 10:00pm at the Omni Hotel at 155 Temple Street in New Haven. Tickets are available at the door for $50. This includes registration for live and silent auction, buffet, dancing and open bar.

With just days to go before one of the Northeast’s largest NFL player supported weekend kicks off, more than 25 players from teams across the country have confirmed their participation. Players with local ties, in addition to Joe Andruzzi, include Jacques Cesaire, former Southern Connecticut All American and current San Diego Charger as well as Hamden’s Chukky Okobi of the Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers. Also participating this weekend will be Patriots’ Russ Hochstein, New York Jets’ Cory Lamkin and Jim Miller, Quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings.

The players will spend the weekend in the area to raise funds and build community with United Way of Greater New Haven. During the weekend players will visit Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital and the Boys and Girls Club of New Haven, conduct a Celebrity Bartending fundraiser at New Haven’s Hula Hanks, host and attend the NFL Celebrity Auction at the Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale, wait tables for area police and firefighters at the Fireside Restaurant in New Haven, and participate in a Bowl with the Pros bowling tournament at AMF Lanes in Hamden and host the 2nd annual United Way/NFL Players Youth Clinic at Yale.

Tickets for The NFL Celebrity Auction on Friday, March 10th are still available. The auction is presented by Stop & Shop and will feature a silent and live auction, light buffet and cash bar. Tickets for the event are $50 in advance or at the door. Please call United Way of Greater New Haven for more information at (2030 772-2010 or log on to www.uwgnh.org.
Cont.
Visit www.uwghn.org/nfl.cfm for a full weekend schedule and up to the minute player and auction news.

About United Way:
United Way mobilizes the caring power of our community to create measurable, sustainable change and to improve lives. To do this we: help identify our region's greatest needs and best opportunities for change; raise dollars and invest those dollars for results; connect people to their caring through volunteer opportunities.

More information about United Way of Greater New Haven's community leadership and how you can help can be found at www.uwgnh.org.

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