Contact: Tammy Fagley Maggie Roetker (859) 276-3488 (502) 629-5272 [email protected] [email protected] Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame to benefit pediatric heart care; 2015 inductees and Blanton Collier Award for Integrity announced (Louisville, Kentucky) Jan. 29, 2015 – The Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame today announced its 2015 inductees and a slate of June events that will benefit pediatric heart care at Kosair Children’s Hospital in Louisville. The official induction ceremony weekend will take place in Louisville, Kentucky, with a ring ceremony on Thursday, June 25 at the Muhammad Ali Center, and golf outing fundraiser at Oxmoor Country Club and the induction ceremony at the Brown Theatre on Friday, June 26. “Kentucky is the only state in the country with a pro football hall of fame,” said Dr. Steve R. Parker, chair of the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame Inc. board of directors. “We’re in a unique position to recognize great accomplishments in football, but also have as our main objective to offer financial assistance to organizations that enrich the lives of children.” Proceeds from the 2015 Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction ceremony and golf outing will support Kosair Children’s Hospital through the Children’s Hospital Foundation. Specifically funds raised will go toward pediatric heart care and Brave Hearts, which is a support group of local families united by their children’s fight for life after being born with complex congenital heart defects requiring heart surgery. “The Children’s Hospital Foundation is grateful for the support being given to the children in our community by the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame,” said Lynnie Meyer, MSN, R.N., CFRE, executive director of the Children’s Hospital Foundation. “Kosair Children’s Hospital offers the region’s only pediatric congenital heart center and treats more than 400 children a year with heart defects. “Many have endured multiple heart surgeries, heart transplants and an array of other related medical procedures. With the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame’s help, we can give more of these kids the help they need.” “We’re excited about our relationship with Kosair Children’s Hospital, whose purpose is to increase the quality of life for children from Kentucky and throughout the world,” said Parker. (more) Being inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame for 2015 are: NAME/HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL COLLEGE NFL TEAM Gil Mains, Mt. Carmel, Mt. Carmel Murray St. ’51 Detroit Lions ’53-’61 Illinois Player, Defensive End, Defensive Tackle Doug Buffone, Shannon Valley ’62 University of Chicago Bears ’66-’79 Yatesboro, Pennsylvania Louisville ’65 Player, Linebacker Bruce Armstrong, Central ’83 University of New England Patriots Miami, Florida Louisville ’86 ’87-’00 Player, Offensive Tackle Aaron Jones, Orlando, Apopka ’87 Eastern Kentucky Miami Dolphins ’96 Florida University ’88 New England Patriots Player, Defensive End, ’93-’95 Defensive Tackle Pittsburgh Steelers ’88-’92 Jacob Tamme, Boyle County University of Indianapolis Colts ’08- Lexington, Kentucky Kentucky ’08 ’11 Player, Tight End Denver Broncos ’12- Legendary Coach Nick Saban will receive the 9th annual Blanton Collier Award for Integrity, named after the famous UK and Cleveland Browns coach. The award recognizes individuals who have shown outstanding integrity both on and off the field. Saban, who is 63, began his award winning coaching career in 1972. Since then he has gone on to win one MAC championship, five SEC championships and four college football national championships. He has also been named National College Coach of the Year twice and SEC Coach of the Year three times. Saban has also coached in the NFL. “Coach Nick Saban has not only set the highest standard for performance on the field, but he has also very quietly and generously given of his time and fame to serve children through Nick’s Kids Fund,” said Blanton Collier’s daughter Dr. Kay Collier McLaughlin, speaking for her family, the Blanton Collier Sportsmanship Group and the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame Board. “He demands of his players the same high standards of discipline and commitment that mark his own life. “We are proud to honor him as the 2015 recipient of the Blanton Collier Award for Integrity on and off the field.” Sponsorship packages for the 2015 Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony and golf outing are currently available through the Children’s Hospital Foundation, (502) 629-8060. Tickets for the ceremony will be available online in May at www.kyprofootballhof.org. # # # About Kosair Children’s Hospital As Kentucky and Southern Indiana’s only full-service, free-standing pediatric hospital, Kosair Children’s Hospital, along with its predecessor hospitals, have cared for children for more than a century without regard to their families’ ability to pay. The hospital also is an advocate for the health and well-being of all children. The 267-bed hospital serves as the primary pediatric teaching facility for the University of Louisville School of Medicine. In 2007 and 2012, Kosair Children’s Hospital received the prestigious Magnet designation recognizing excellence in nursing from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. More information is available at KosairChildrensHospital.com. .