Minnesota

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lynn Shelander Director of Marketing & Communications – Special Olympics Minnesota Mobile: 763.300.6941

Adrian Peterson Teams Up With Special Olympics Minnesota Special Olympics Minnesota Announces Adrian Peterson - Ambassador for Unified Sports Program , Minn. – September 12, 2014 – Last night, Adrian Peterson hosted approximately 100 guests at his home for a fundraising event (Adrian Peterson & Special Olympics Season Kick-Off Event) to benefit the All Day Foundation and Special Olympics Minnesota (SOMN). The event celebrated the power of sport and how it transforms, unites and reveals the champion within. The intimate evening included a program and auction hosted by FOX 9 News Chief Meteorologist Ian Leonard, with special appearances from Peterson, SOMN athletes and SOMN’s President & CEO Dave Dorn. Together, SOMN and Peterson announced that Peterson would serve as an ambassador for one of Special Olympics fastest growing programs, Unified Sports, which is designed to break down barriers and foster inclusion. Peterson was presented with a Special Olympics jersey and trading card in honor of his commitment to Special Olympics and Unified Sports. During the event Peterson stated, “I’ve always believed in Special Olympics and its athletes. Sport is a vehicle to bring us together. That’s what Unified Sports is about. It’s about unity, acceptance and inclusion. It’s about breaking down barriers to learn from each other. We are much more alike, than we are different.” About Unified Sport Special Olympics Unified Sports® combine athletes with and without disabilities (Unified partner) on the same team. By participating together, athletes and Unified partners improve their physical fitness, sharpen their skills, challenge the competition and overcome prejudices about intellectual disabilities. Unified Sports is a great program for families that wants to play together, a business that wants to get involved, or a school interested in starting a team!

About The All Day Foundation All Day Foundation was founded by Adrian Peterson in 2008 to raise awareness and funds for programs that inspire hope and build a better future for at-risk children, with a special focus on girls’ empowerment. All Day Foundation is a donor advised fund of the Minnesota Community Foundation.

About Special Olympics Minnesota Special Olympics Minnesota offers children and adults with intellectual disabilities year-round sports training and competition. Through Special Olympics’ athletic, health and leadership programs, people with intellectual disabilities transform themselves, their communities and the world.

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Special Olympics Minnesota 100 Washington Avenue South, Suite 550, Minneapolis, MN 55401 Tel 800.783.7732 Fax 612.333.8782 Email [email protected] www.SOMN.org Created by Joseph P Kennedy Jr Foundation. Authorized and accredited by Special Olympics, Inc. for the benefit of persons with intellectual disabilities.