Honor the Heroes of the Game, Preserve its History, Promote its Values & Celebrate Excellence EVERYWHERE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE @ProFootballHOF 07/31/17 #PFHOF17
HALL OF FAMERS & YOUTH TO PARTICIPATE IN PLAY FOOTBALL “FIRST PLAY” & SKILLS CAMP EVENTS KICK OFF 2017 PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME ENSHRINEMENT WEEK POWERED BY JOHNSON CONTROLS
CANTON, OHIO – Several Hall of Famers will join thousands of children at the annual Play Football “First Play” on Wednesday, Aug. 2 to kick off the 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls. Later in day, Hall of Famers will participate in a special Skills Camp with area youth athletes. The events also launch the National Football League’s Play Football Month, a nationwide celebration of youth and high school football players.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 18th annual Play Football “First Play” is set for 10 a.m. on Aug. 2. A chain of 3,000 children will pass a football along a three-mile route, starting in downtown Canton where the NFL was founded in 1920 to the front steps of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Six Hall of Famers – ELVIN BETHEA, JOE DeLAMIELLEURE, JAMES LOFTON, RICKEY JACKSON, ANDRE REED and RON YARY will participate at the opening ceremony for Play Football “First Play” and join the children along the route.
“This event kicks off a great celebration in Canton. It also provides the youth of today an opportunity to connect with the greatest players in the history of the game who represent the values learned from the game. Values such as teamwork, perseverance, courage and integrity serve as inspiration to all the children,” stated Pro Football Hall of Fame President & CEO David Baker.
Youth-focused festivities at Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls mark the launch of the NFL’s Play Football Month. Throughout the preseason, Play Football
COMMITMENT • INTEGRITY • COURAGE • RESPECT • EXCELLENCE
Month will celebrate the values of the game and recognize the efforts and contributions of youth and high school football players throughout the country. The League, its 32 clubs and partners, such as USA Football, will recognize youth athletes, coaches, families and their communities by inviting youth football players to stand alongside NFL players and coaches on-field during the National Anthem and distributing complimentary preseason game tickets to youth football organizations, among other special activities.
“We are excited to celebrate and unite the youth football community in Canton with a series of fun and engaging Play Football events during Enshrinement Week,” said NFL Senior Director of Youth and High School Football Roman Oben. “Local youth will have the opportunity to connect with NFL greats and learn about the values intrinsic to the game.”
The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s vast programming is deeply rooted in the Hall’s Mission to “Honor the Heroes of the Game, Preserve its History, Promote its Values & Celebrate Excellence EVERYWHERE!” The Play Football Skills Camp is one of many ways that the Hall of Fame collaborates with the NFL to recognize and celebrate the core values learned from the Game – commitment, integrity, courage, respect, and excellence – that help build character in all areas of life. Hall of Famers participating in the Play Football Skills Camp includes REED, YARY and MEL BLOUNT, MARSHALL FAULK, WARREN MOON, ORLANDO PACE, JOHN RANDLE and WILL SHIELDS.
More than 400 athletes will participate in the Play Football Skills Camp scheduled 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The camp will focus on the fundamentals of football as well as the character and values it builds in all who play the game. The Hall of Fame greats will lead football skills and drills alongside coaches and football players from local high schools and universities. The clinic will take place at the new National Youth Football & Sports Complex, part of Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village, a $700 million development project of the Pro Football Hall of Fame campus.
MEDIA COVERAGE: Any credential issued for the 2017 Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls will allow media access to the Play Football “First Play” and Skills Camp. # # #
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Media Contacts: Pete Fierle, Pro Football Hall of Fame [email protected]; 330-588-3622
Ana Blinder, NFL [email protected]
COMMITMENT • INTEGRITY • COURAGE • RESPECT • EXCELLENCE
ABOUT THE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME Located in Canton, Ohio, the birthplace of the National Football League, the Pro Football Hall of Fame is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit institution with the Mission to Honor the Heroes of the Game, Preserve its History, Promote its Values, & Celebrate Excellence EVERYWHERE.
Hundreds of thousands of fans from across the globe travel to Canton annually to experience “The Most Inspiring Place on Earth!” that chronicles America’s most popular sport.
Construction on Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village, a $700 million development project that includes ten main components, is under way in Canton to transform the Hall of Fame’s campus.
For more information about the Pro Football Hall of Fame, please visit ProFootballHOF.com; @ProFootballHOF on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube.
ABOUT PLAY FOOTBALL Play Football is a year-round initiative celebrating youth and high school football. Play Football works to shape the football experience, advocate for safety, promote football values and connect football communities. For more information, featured football stories, best practices and resources aimed to create a positive playing experience, please visit PlayFootball.com or follow @NFLPlayFootball. Join the conversation on social media using #LetsPlayFootball.
COMMITMENT • INTEGRITY • COURAGE • RESPECT • EXCELLENCE