FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Nearly one year after tornadoes swept through Western Massachusetts, the New England Patriots Alumni Club (NEPAC) and New England Patriots Charitable Foundation (NEPCF) will return to Springfield, Mass., to host a free 'Football for YOU' youth clinic this Friday, June 22. It will be the first of two clinics this weekend. Patriots wide receiver Matthew Slater will help provide instruction at skill stations and will serve as the guest speaker, encouraging children to exercise 60 minutes each day as part of the Patriots and NFL's PLAY 60 campaign.
"We are glad to return to the Springfield area to once again play a part of lifting the spirits of Western Massachusetts children and communities," said NEPAC President and former Patriots center Peter Brock. "We are also excited to bring this one-day youth clinic to New Hampshire. It is free for any youth ages 11-14 and is a great opportunity for families to watch, so we hope any children that would like to participate will join us."
Following Friday's clinic, NEPAC and NEPCF will team to bring 'Football for YOU' to the state of New Hampshire for the first time in the clinic's seven-year history. Former Patriots fullback and three-time Super Bowl Champion Patrick Pass will join eight former Patriots to lend his expertise at skill stations and serve as the guest speaker. The Football for YOU clinics are sponsored by The Hanover Insurance Group and Papa Gino's.
"We're very excited to join with our local agent partners to sponsor this year's 'Football for YOU' clinic," said Bill Gross, Regional Vice President for The Hanover's commercial lines business. "These clinics are a unique way for us to team up with our local partner agents and give something back to the communities where we live and work."
"Papa Gino's is proud to support the 'Football for YOU" clinics again this year", said Rick Wolf, president and CEO of Papa Gino's, Inc. "We admire the commitment the Patriots Alumni have shown in giving hundreds of children throughout New England a chance to participate in this great football program."
Participation is free of charge and each child receives a T-shirt and Patriots gift bags. Children will also be treated to a Papa Gino's pizza party following the clinic. Walk-ins are welcome, to register or for more information about the "Football for YOU" program or NEPAC visit www.patriots.com/alumni.
FOOTBALL FOR YOU CLINIC DETAILS - same-day registration welcome
· Springfield, Mass.
Date: Friday, June 22, 2012
Time: 12:30 - 5:00 p.m.
Location: Springfield College, 263 Alden Street Springfield, Mass.
*Participants may stay for the high school football all-star game to follow.
· Durham, N.H.
Date: Saturday, June 23, 2012
Time: 8:30 a.m. - noon
Location: University of New Hampshire, 145 Main Street, Durham, N.H.
*Participants may stay for the high school football all-star game to follow.
Patriots Contact: Sarah Leong Oliver; 508-326-4336
Springfield Contact: Mike Martin; 413-537-4179
Durham Contact: Danielle Matteau; 603-765-9240
About the New England Patriots Alumni Club
The New England Patriots Alumni Club provides an opportunity for former New England Patriots players to remain actively involved with one another, the Patriots organization and the community. The organization's mission is to support and fund youth and high school sports programs throughout New England with an emphasis on football. To learn more, visit www.patriots.com/alumni.
About The Hanover
Founded in 1852, The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (NYSE: THG) is proud to be celebrating 160 years of delivering on its promises to its agent partners and their customers. The Hanover offers a wide range of property and casualty products and services to businesses, individuals, and families through a select group of agents and brokers, and is ranked among the top 25 property and casualty companies in the United States.
Based in Worcester, Mass., The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. is the holding company for a group of insurers that includes The Hanover Insurance Company, also based in Worcester, Citizens Insurance Company of America, headquartered in Howell, Michigan, Chaucer Holdings PLC, based in London, and their affiliates. Through Chaucer, the company underwrites business at Lloyd's of London in several major insurance and reinsurance classes, including property, marine and aviation, energy, U.K. motor and casualty. For more information, please visit www.hanover.com.
About Papa Gino's
Based in Dedham, Massachusetts, Papa Gino's, Inc. is the parent company of Papa Gino's and D'Angelo Grilled Sandwiches. Papa Gino's, Inc. operates more than 370 company-owned and franchised Papa Gino's, D'Angelo and dual-location restaurants and employs more than 5,000 people. For more information about Papa Gino's, Inc. and its brands, please visit www.papaginos.com.
About the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation
The purpose of the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation is to support programs that aid the youth and families of the New England region by assisting programs that foster cultural diversity, education, family and health and fitness. To learn more, visit www.patriots.com/community.
