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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