Foxborough, Mass - Special Olympics Massachusetts, a leader in providing healthy lifestyles for those with intellectual disabilities via sports training and competition, has a winning partnership with the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation. On Sunday, November 13th, this championship combination will host the third annual Flag Football and Cheerleading event at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.
The event made its debut in 2009 at Gillette Stadium. Each year the event grows as flag football and cheerleading participation continues to increase throughout Special Olympics Massachusetts; one of the first chapters to offer these sports as part of their yearly calendar. Athletes and Unified Partners from Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island will participate in Unified 5X5 flag football games and cheerleading demonstrations.
"We are glad to provide athletes with a popular sporting event that imparts the thrills of participating in flag football and cheerleading while also offering an exciting way to stay healthy," said Robert Johnson, President and CEO of Special Olympics Massachusetts. "The New England Patriots inspire athletes as champions who represent success and celebration and the thrill of competing in Gillette Stadium is the opportunity of a lifetime for many. We are grateful for this chance and for the support of the New England Patriots."
"We always enjoy teaming with Special Olympics for this growing event," said Andre Tippett, Pro Football Hall of Famer and Executive Director of Community Affairs for the Patriots. "This upcoming week the Foundation is proud to work in cooperation with local nonprofits, including Special Olympics, for our week-long focus on 'Youth Sports'in conjunction with our season-long 'Celebrate Volunteerism'campaign.
There is no better setting for this day of football than Gillette Stadium, and we are honored to host the state games again this year."
Flag Football & Cheerleading -
The timeline for the event is as follows:
8:00 a.m. Registration (Shift 1)
8:45 a.m. Opening Ceremony (Shift 1)
9:30 a.m. Competition Starts (Shift 1)
12:00 p.m. Teams Register (Shift 2)
12:30 p.m. Opening Ceremony (Shift 2)
1:15 p.m. Competition Starts (Shift 2)
3:30 p.m. Awards Ceremonies
Media planning on attending the event should contact Sarah Leong Oliver. Media can check in at the registration tables.*
The annual Special Olympics Massachusetts'Flag Football and Cheerleading event joins soccer, equestrian and senior sports as part of the organization's annual Fall Tournament Series. The series take place throughout the months of October and November.
ABOUT THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
The New England Patriots Charitable Foundation is the nonprofit organization established by the Kraft family in 1994 to support charitable and philanthropic agencies throughout New England. This support comes in the form of direct grants and the donation of signed memorabilia to charitable causes, as well as from Patriots players who offer their support by appearing at charity functions throughout the year. In 2011, the Foundation will work to raise cancer awareness through the "Celebrate Volunteerism" initiative. For more information about the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation, please visit www.patriots.com/community.
About Special Olympics Massachusetts
Special Olympics Massachusetts provides year-round sports training, athletic competition, and other health-related programming for 12,168 children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics Athletes are given continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics Athletes and the community. More information is available at www.specialolympicsma.org.
