Team ESPN Joins The V Foundation for Seventh Annual “Show Your Spirit” to Raise Funding for Cancer Research

Program Features Sports Fans Wearing Favorite Teams’ Attire for $5 Donation to Cancer Research March 20 & 21

March 5, 2008 -- Show your spirit for your favorite teams while supporting essential cancer research on March 20 and/or 21 by participating in Team ESPN’s and The V Foundation’s seventh annual “Show Your Spirit!”® fundraising campaign. The program -- annually coinciding with the start of the national college basketball tournaments -- invites companies, organizations and schools nationwide to unite in the fight against cancer for one or both of the days. This year will mark the 25th anniversary of Jim Valvano winning the NCAA Championship as head coach of N.C. State. Valvano and ESPN founded The V Foundation for Cancer Research.

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Participants are asked to contribute a minimum $5 donation to The V Foundation which “earns” them the right to wear their favorite team apparel to work or school on Show Your Spirit Day. Each participant will receive a “Don’t Give Up. . .Don’t Ever Give Up!”® button to wear to commemorate his or her support, and visibly remind others of the need for cancer research funding. With a pledge from Nike to cover all program expenses, every donated dollar to the Show Your Spirit! campaign will go directly to cancer research.

Current statistics reveal that cancer will strike one of every two American men and one of every three women (source: NCI statistic). As tournament brackets go up on office walls and fans nationwide celebrate the start of a great American sporting event, they can also team up to help fund cancer research.

ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU’s extensive college basketball post-season coverage will include every game from the Division I Women’s Basketball Championship (March 22-April 8) and men’s MasterCard NIT (March 18-April 3), the semifinals and championship of the Division II Women’s Basketball Championship (March 27 and March 29), and the game of the Division I Men’s Basketball Opening Round game (March 18).

To register or for further information log on to jimmyv.org/showspirit/ or call 1-800-4JimmyV.

The V Foundation for Cancer Research

The V Foundation for Cancer Research was founded in 1993 by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano, legendary North Carolina State basketball coach and ESPN commentator. Since 1993, The Foundation has raised more than $70 million to fund cancer research grants nationwide. It awards 100 percent of all new direct cash donations and net proceeds of events directly to cancer research and related programs. The Foundation, which has received five consecutive top 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator, awards grants through a competitive awards process strictly supervised by a Scientific Review Committee. For more information on The V Foundation or to make a donation, please visit jimmyv.org.

Team ESPN

Team ESPN encompasses ESPN’s multi-faceted corporate outreach programs including volunteerism, corporate giving and cause marketing, while utilizing its diverse media assets. Through Team ESPN, ESPN, its employees, and its fans work together to make a difference in our world and the communities in which we live. Team ESPN. . .Fans Helping Fans. teamespn.com.

Source: ESPN