CURTIS LAUNCHES CURTIS LOFTON 50 TACKLE CHALLENGE BENEFITING CHILDHOOD CANCER RESEARCH

ATLANTA– Atlanta Falcons Linebacker Curtis Lofton will launch the Curtis Lofton 50 Tackle Challenge at Dantanna’s Downtown-CNN Center on Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2010, from 6 to 9 p.m.  As part of the Challenge, individuals are asked to pledge donations of 50 cents, $1.50, $5, $50 or any other amount of their choosing for each tackle Lofton makes in the 2010 NFL season. All proceeds raised will benefit the Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research (Rally). Lofton has been a spokesperson for Rally since 2009.

Last season, Lofton made 133 tackles. If you had pledged $1.50 a tackle last year, your total commitment would have been $199.50. This year, he has set a goal to raise $200 per tackle through the Challenge.

“In high school, my basketball coach’s daughter was diagnosed with cancer, so I saw firsthand the challenges childhood cancer patients face,” said Lofton. “I tackle some of the toughest football players in the NFL, but that is nothing compared to what these kids tackle every day with cancer. I look forward to using my football skills to help Rally fund research so that, one day, we will find cures for all types of childhood cancers.”

Atlanta residents, Skip and Victoria Moore and family, have already taken the Challenge and have pledged to give $150 per tackle Lofton makes this season.
“We believe that Curtis’ success can translate into a significant increase in the awareness of childhood cancer research and Rally,” said the Moores. “We welcome others to join us in the Curtis Lofton 50 Tackle Challenge and Curtis’ goal of tackling childhood cancer."

The Curtis Lofton 50 Tackle Challenge launch event is open to the public and is intended to educate individuals about the program and the need for more childhood cancer research.  For every dollar Rally receives, 93 cents goes to support childhood cancer research. In just four years, Rally has awarded more than $1.6 million in childhood cancer research grants while supporting 45 projects in 32 hospitals nationwide.

To find out more about Rally and the Curtis Lofton 50 Tackle Challenge, visit RallyFoundation.org.

 

About Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research
Childhood cancer is the number one disease killer of kids ages 0 to 15. Its research is under-funded by as much as $30 million each year. Rally, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, empowers volunteers across the country to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer research to find better treatments with fewer long-term side effects and, ultimately, cures. Rally received the Independent Charities Seal of Excellence for meeting the highest organizational standards. Visit RallyFoundation.org for more information.

 

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Atlanta Falcons Set Guinness World Record for Largest Virtual Physical Education Class

In the eyes of the Atlanta Falcons organization, there is no task too large to undertake, so when the team was challenged to set a Guinness World Record for Largest Virtual Physical Education Class they quickly set to work!

The Falcons decision to pursue the Guinness World Record was not only to break the former record of 646 held by the Washington Redskins, but to also raise awareness for the fight against youth obesity. 

The Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation have several initiatives focused on the importance of tackling youth obesity.  The Falcons First Down for Fitness Program, in its fourth year, is a three-month program designed to challenge third through seventh grade students throughout the State of Georgia to participate in fitness activities, eat healthy, and lead a healthy lifestyle.

The program incorporates components of the NFL’s Play 60 program, the American Heart Association, and the Southeast United Dairy Industry Association’s (SUDIA) Fuel Up to Play 60 nutrition program. Students must participate in physical fitness activities at least 60 minutes, five days a week and maintain healthy eating habits.

The Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation (AFYF) was established in 1985 to serve as the philanthropic arm of the Atlanta Falcons. Since Arthur Blank acquired the Atlanta Falcons in 2002, AFYF has grown to be the largest owner-funded foundation in the National Football League, providing more than $17 million in grants to nonprofit organizations across the state of Georgia.

AFYF is taking the issue of childhood obesity head on by investing in nonprofit organizations that are moving school-age kids to spend more time every day in organized physical activity.

The Atlanta Falcons and the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation, along with Falcons players, cheerleaders, and team executives, partnered with Coca-Cola (Dasani), Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA), HOPSports Training Systems, Southeast United Dairy Industry Association, Inc. (SUDIA) and the Georgia Dome to host the attempt. 

Several local and state dignitaries attended the record-setting event including Georgia Governor-elect Nathan Deal. 

A total of 2,288 elementary and middle school-aged children from across the State of Georgia who are part of the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation’s Falcons Fitness Zones and the Atlanta Falcons First Down for Fitness Program participated in the event. 

Stephanie Blank, chair of the Foundation Board of Trustees for Children’s Health Care of Atlanta, an active member of the Falcons Youth Foundation and the wife of Falcons Owner & CEO Arthur M. Blank, participated in the 30-minute virtual exercise class along with Falcons players, cheerleaders and team President Rich McKay. 

“The Atlanta Falcons are committed to making sure children in our community and all over the country are excited about exercise,” Blank said.  “We want to get the message out to all young people that it’s cool to exercise.  Not only is it cool, it’s good for you and it’s fun.”

The Falcons also hosted a live webcast of the attempt for people around the world to participate alongside the record setters at the Georgia Dome.  Nearly 6,000 individuals across the United States participated in the attempt, including elementary and middle school aged-children, adults and residents at senior citizen centers. 

At 11:25 a.m., Danny Girton, Jr., Corporate Adjudicator Manager for Guinness World Records made it official.  The Atlanta Falcons are now the World Record holders for the Largest Virtual Physical Education Class with 2,288 kids participating.