Nine NFL Pro Bowlers Exhibit Golf Skills To Raise $100 Thousand For Children's Miracle Network Hospitals In Televised August 5 Event

Children's Miracle Network
Monday, 31 July 2000

Third Annual Ace Hardware NFL Charities Golf Shootout, To Benefit 14 Million Kids In 170 Children's Hospitals, Airs On FOX Sports Net

(Honolulu)--Just in time for the opening of this year's NFL preseason play, some of the NFL's finest will show that football's not their only passion when nine Pro Bowlers compete in the third annual Ace Hardware NFL Charities Golf Shootout, beginning Saturday August 5 on FOX Sports Net (see broadcast schedule). Super Bowl MVP Kurt Warner and St. Louis Rams running back Marshall Faulk join Tim Brown (Oakland Raiders), Brad Johnson (Washington Redskins), John Lynch (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Michael Strahan (New York Giants), Wesley Walls (Carolina Panthers), Rod Woodson (Baltimore Ravens), and former 49er Steve Young to raise funds for Children's Miracle Network and its 170 affiliated children's hospitals.

Broadcast from Ko Olina Golf Club in Kapolei, just outside Honolulu, the Golf Shootout isn't your run-of-the-mill charity golf tournament. Rather, it's a fun-filled, made-for-television event that tests the skills of these football greats in six different golf shots--the drive, medium iron shot, trouble shot, pitch shot, bunker shot and, of course, putting.

The players are paired into three teams as they compete for $100,000 to be donated to Children's Miracle Network in the names of the players from the winning team.

This is the third year of the event, which Ace Hardware has sponsored since its inception. In fact, Ace has been raising funds in behalf of Children's Miracle Network since 1990--a total of $13.3 million over the 10 years. Commenting on the longstanding relationship between the two organizations, Ace Vice President of Human Resources Fred Neer said, "We're proud of the amazing team of Ace retailers, vendors and employees who continue to show that Ace is the place for caring. And knowing that through Children's Miracle Network the dollars raised stay local, benefiting the children in each of our own neighborhoods, makes us that much prouder of our contribution through the Golf Shootout and other events." This is the second year the event has been co-sponsored by NFL Charities.

While much attention is placed on the NFL stars at the Golf Shootout, the players are the first to admit that their caddies actually deserve the accolades. Nine children who have been treated at one of the children's hospitals affiliated with Children's Miracle Network are invited to serve as the players' honorary caddies. One of these kids will attempt to sink a 50-foot putt to win $1 Million for Children's Miracle Network. The NFL All Stars will, of course, add their support with putting tips.

One of the children, 10-year-old Justin Young of Mililani, Hawaii, underwent heart surgery as a tiny, 4-month-old baby at Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women & Children. It was at that time that doctors discovered he had Hemophilia. Today Justin receives blood factors three times a week. "When I see kids like Justin and think what they must go through every day just to survive," said Kurt Warner of the Rams, "I know who the real champions are. I've taken some pretty good hits, but they're nothing compared to what these kids deal with."

The Golf Shootout is hosted by FOX sportscasters Bill Maas and John Walls and will be shown beginning Saturday, August 5 on Fox Sports Net.

For more information, or to contact Children's Miracle Network, see their website at: www.cmn.org