FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Angela Alfano, NFL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Angela Alfano, NFL

NFL 10/21/13 212/450-2290,

Felipe Benitez, United Way Worldwide

703/836-7112, x546,

NFL CELEBRATES 40-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH UNITED WAY

NFL and Teams Participate in Annual NFL-United Way Hometown Huddle Day of Service

NFL and United Way Team With USA TODAY Sports Media Group

For Vote on Favorite PSAs of Past 40 Years Using USA TODAY’s Ad Meter

The 2013 NFL season marks the 40th anniversary of the NFL-United Way partnership. In recognition of this milestone, the NFL and United Way are teaming with USA TODAY SPORTS Media Group to host a nationwide vote to identify the best NFL-United Way public service ads (PSA) of the past 40 years.

Since the partnership’s inception in 1973, more than 800 NFL players, coaches and club executives have appeared in NFL-United Way ads. The NFL’s 40-year relationship with United Way is the longest-running partnershipbetween a sports league and nonprofit organization.

Powered by USA TODAY Ad Meter, the top 40 ads will be revealed by the decade over a four-week period. Fans can rate each ad on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the best) at nflunitedway40.usatoday.com. Voting begins tomorrow, coinciding with the 15th annual NFL-United Way Hometown Huddle league-wide day of service, and concludes on November 19. The top 10 will be featured on NFL.com and the winner announced on December 15.

“We are proud of the NFL’s 40-year association with United Way,” said NFL CommissionerROGER GOODELL.“The memorable NFL-United Way messages have highlighted the importance of serving our communities through the leadership of our players and clubs. This year's campaign featurescurrent and former NFL players encouraging young people to continue to stay fit, maintain healthy lifestyles and contribute to their communities.”

Commissioner Goodell will join Pro Football Hall of Famer FRANCO HARRIS and former Giants player AMANI TOOMER Tuesday to kick off the 40th anniversary festivities by participating in the 15th annual NFL-United Way Hometown Huddle league-wide day of service. They will attend the NFL office’s Hometown Huddle event in New York. Both Harris and Toomer participated in NFL-United Way PSAs. Harris appeared in the first year of the campaign and Toomer was featured in 2003.

“USA TODAY Sports is ecstatic to expand our relationship with the NFL and United Way and be a part of their 40th Anniversary Celebration. We are also excited to activate our Ad Meter platform so fans can vote on the greatest NFL-United Way PSAs from the past 40 years,” said USA TODAY Sports Media Group Senior Vice President of Sports Marketing and Partnerships, MERRILL SQUIRES.

From building fitness zones and playgrounds to hosting youth football clinics, Hometown Huddle events encourage kids to stay active for 60 minutes a day as part of NFL PLAY 60, the league’s youth health and wellness campaign. The NFL-United Way partnership connects NFL PLAY 60 with United Way’s 2018 goal to get 1.9 million more young people healthy and active.

“For 40 years, the NFL and United Way have strived to create opportunity for our youth to reach their full potential,” said STACEY D. STEWART, U.S. President of United Way Worldwide. “Whether it’s encouraging young people to get active or recruiting NFL fans as tutors, NFL players are making a difference in their communities.We are grateful for their efforts and leadership, and look forward to another 40 years of working together.”

NFL coaches, players, and executives from across the league, along with NFL employees, will participate in local Hometown Huddle events.

Since 2011, NFL players have joined United Way TEAM NFL, a special volunteer group committed to helping United Way recruit one million volunteer readers, tutors and mentors. Comprised of college-educated, civic-minded NFL players from teams across the league, United Way TEAM NFL ambassadors participate in community events, each with the goal of recruiting 3,000 volunteers.

United Way TEAM NFL members, including Cleveland Browns linebacker JABAAL SHEARD, Kansas City Chiefs linebacker DERRICK JOHNSON, Oakland Raiders fullback MARCEL REECE, Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end CAMERON HEYWARD and Washington Redskins wide receiver JOSHUA MORGAN, will participate in their team’s Hometown Huddle event.

Below is a snapshot of how teams are working with United Way on Hometown Huddle events.

To learn more about NFL-United Way partnership visit: www.unitedway.org/team-nfl.

TEAM / HOMETOWN HUDDLE ACTIVITIES
Arizona Cardinals / Cardinals’ players, wives, Big Red and cheerleaders will help school children at Balsz Elementary School build a Mural on their front facing fence for Arizona’s Hometown Huddle event. Using put-in-cups, the mural will provide a unique sign that will add color and be a fun way to identity the school. Mural artist, ROBERT MILEY, from releasethefear.org, will help create and fill in a mural on the primary wall of the school. The mural will be created and painted by Balsz students, as well as Cardinals players, wives, cheerleaders, and Big Red. The event will also include a PLAY 60 camp.
Atlanta
Falcons / In celebration of the Falcons annual Hometown Huddle event, the entire 53-man roster and practice squad, in addition to Falcons’ cheerleaders and members of the Falcons Women's Association, will make surprise appearances at 13 locations in the metro Atlanta area. Six stops will include United Way-affiliated schools where the players and cheerleaders will deliver new sports equipment and promote physical fitness as part of the NFL's PLAY 60 initiative. Additional stops will be made at Project Open Hand, Ronald McDonald House, children's hospitals, a local McDonalds and a local Publix Super Market. Falcons Women's Association will prepare and serve lunch to the homeless at Crossroads Community Ministries.
Baltimore Ravens / The Ravens hosted their Hometown Huddle event at M&T Bank Stadium on Tuesday, October 15. Ravens Chykie Brown, morgan cox, Art jones, Jacoby Jones, bernard pierce, Torrey Smith, Justin tucker and tyrod taylor served as team captains for students from Curtis Bay Elementary School competing in the second annual Ravens TEAM Challenge. Under the guidance of Playworks Baltimore, players joined students as they tested their physical endurance and ability to work as a team. One group was declared TEAM Challenge champions, based upon total points accumulated. The Ravens TEAM Challenge integrates educational programming and the NFL’s PLAY 60 physical activities while focusing on three values: fitness, sportsmanship and academics.
Buffalo
Bills / At the 2013 Hometown Huddle event, on Tuesday, October 15, the Bills partnered with the American Dairy Association and Dairy Council on a cafeteria refurbishment at the Frederick Law Olmstead BPS School Number 156 as a part of the Fuel Up To Play 60 program. Toyota Rookie Club members, including ROBERT WOODS, KIKO ALONSO, MARQUISE GOODWIN, CHRIS GRAGG, JOHNNY ADAMS, RONNIE WINGO and TY POWELL, helped dedicate the new cafeteria and student lounge. They spoke to the students about the importance of eating healthy foods and getting 60 minutes of physical activity each day.
Carolina Panthers / The Panthers hosted a PLAY 60 Camp for more than 450 children at Billingsville Elementary School, a Title 1 School serving children in grades Pre-K – 5, in Charlotte, N.C. on Tuesday, October 15.The official team mascot, Sir Purr, and TopCats cheerleaders made appearances during the day’s events and Panthers players ran the PLAY 60 stations with the help of United Way volunteers.The team’s official game day DJ also joined in on the fun to provide some upbeat PLAY 60 music.
Chicago
Bears / On Tuesday, October 15, the Bears Hometown Huddle took place at Round Lake High School. With the help of United Way of Lake County, the Bears and Bears Care had the unique opportunity to impact the lives of Round Lake youth by improving the high school’s existing weight training and conditioning room and expanding the space to include a new fitness area for the students. The space, which is utilized by 2,000 students, will be a reminder of the overall importance of health and fitness, reiterating the NFL’s PLAY 60 initiative. The Bears 2013 Rookie Class and Round Lake High School students joined together to finish the painting, put the final pieces of equipment in place and unveil the new, improved exercise space for students.
Cincinnati Bengals / The Bengals are excited to be a part of the Cincinnati Recreation Commission’s (CRC) “vision” of Cincinnati’s first state-of-art, inclusive and accessible recreation complex. The LeBlond Regional RecPlex will utilize the principles of universal design to offer the best experiences for individuals and families with or without disabilities. The new indoor/outdoor RecPlex will provide inclusive recreation activities, while promoting healthy lifestyles and fitness. Current Bengals players, The Marvin Lewis Community Fund, and volunteers, will be an integral part of this project, heading up the construction of the Inclusive Playground. This inclusive playground will take accessibility to the max – encouraging children and adults of all abilities to enjoy playtime together. The Bengals also be constructing a community garden for families to grow fresh fruit and vegetables, promoting a healthier lifestyle. Additionally, the Bengals will beautify the outdoor space with extensive landscaping, native trees, shrubs, flowers and adding benches and picnic table seating areas for families.
Cleveland Browns / The Browns will celebrate the installation of the 15th play space created through the Browns and United Way collaboration through the Hometown Huddle project. A local elementary school has been selected for the project and 150 volunteers will unite to transform their outdoor space. The current play area resembles a former parking lot with no outdoor structures for the kids to play on, and the Hometown Huddle project will make an immediate positive impact. The transformation will include the installation of a new play unit including a wave slide, double slide, clover climber, cargo net climber, trapeze rings and three decks while picnic tables, benches and an outdoor basketball court will be created. Other projects include painting games and activities on the ground surface and installing privacy panels on the fence surrounding the space.
Dallas Cowboys / The Cowboys will celebrate Hometown Huddle by hosting a PLAY 60 Junior Training Camp at Anderson Elementary School in Plano, Texas on Tuesday, October 22. Players, mascot Rowdy and volunteers from United Way of Metropolitan Dallas will assist in running the youth through a variety of exciting football drills. Players will speak to the students about the importance of being active and making positive life choices, while a representative from Fuel Up to PLAY 60 will be on hand to encourage healthy eating. Gene and Jerry Jones Family Charities will present $2,500 grants to both the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and the United Way of Tarrant County as part of the event.
Denver Broncos / The Broncos celebrated their annual Hometown Huddle at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on Tuesday, October 1. The Broncos invited 350 children from all 15 Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver to share in the day’s events. With the help of Playworks, children participated in on field fitness activities supporting the NFL’s PLAY 60 initiative. United Way and Broncos employees volunteered and players participates as ‘team leaders’ for each of the 15 clubs.
Detroit
Lions / Tuesday, October 15, the Detroit Lions wrapped up its Meet Up & Eat Up with the Lions program at Eastern Market with former Lions running back BARRY SANDERS and Detroit Public Schools students from Burton International Academy and Detroit Lions Academy. In partnership with United Way for Southeastern Michigan, Fair Food Network, Detroit Eastern Market, Playworks, Wayne State University School of Medicine and Gleaners Community Food Bank, this weekly program, which started September 10 with an appearance from former Lions tackle and Pro Bowler LOMAS BROWN, aimed to continue efforts to fight against food insecurity in Detroit. Building upon the Detroit Lions Living for the City’s Lunch with the Lions event which debuted in 2012, Meet Up & Eat Up with the Lions educated Detroit Public Schools students about eating fresh fruits and vegetables, their accessibility within the city, as well as the importance of active play. The program included a snack preparation demonstration from Ford Field Executive Chef JOE NADER, a shopping trip to Eastern Market’s Tuesday Market, information about food assistance programs promoting eating fresh produce, PLAY 60 activities led by Playworks and appearances from the Detroit Lions mascot and alumni.
Green Bay Packers / The Packers and United Way will work together to install playground equipment at Hoover Park, part of the Appleton Parks and Recreation. Packers’ players will work alongside United Way volunteers to install a playground structure that motivates youth to get out and exercise.
Houston Texans / The Texans Hometown Huddle event was held at The Health Museum on Tuesday, October 15. Youth from the Houston Texans YMCA and the Boys & Girls Clubs visited interactive exhibits that focused on healthy lifestyles, the functions of the body, and how to live a healthy life. In addition, children were treated to a private class called, “The Beat Goes On,” which is specifically about the human heart. Children had the opportunity to team up with the cheerleaders, TORO, and the entire Texans rookie class, including DEANDRE HOPKINS and DJ SWEARINGER. With the help of United Way volunteers, children also were treated to lunch, giveaways from the Texans and the Health Museum.