CONTACT: Jen Peters Communications Director 314‐453‐0453 x122 [email protected] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FORMER ST. LOUIS CARDINAL MIKE MATHENY HONORED AS 2010 “CHAMPION FOR KIDS” BY VARIETY THE CHILDREN’S CHARITY OF ST. LOUIS Past Recipients Include Baseball Legends Stan Musial, Jack Buck, Lou Brock, Ozzie Smith and Mike Shannon for Award that Honors National Celebrity Making a Difference in the Lives of St. Louis Children ST. LOUIS (Sept. 27, 2010) – The St. Louis Cardinals have a history of stepping up to the plate. For local children, that is. This year, former Cardinals catcher Mike Matheny joins legendary baseball company as the 2010 “Champion for Kids,” awarded annually by Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis to a nationally known celebrity who is going above and beyond to help local children. Past “Champion for Kids” honorees include Ozzie Smith (1987), Jack Buck (1988), Stan Musial (1994), Mike Shannon (1996), Bob Costas (1997), Lou Brock (1999) and Joe Buck (2007). A four‐time Rawlings Gold Glove winner, Matheny is well known off the field for his Catch 22 Foundation, which built the $650,000 “Catch 22 Miracle Field” at Chesterfield Valley Athletic Complex, a field constructed to allow children of all abilities to experience the thrill of baseball. Specifically designed to accommodate athletes with physical or mental disabilities, the field incorporates a firm, rubber artificial playing surface that is more conducive for wheelchairs, walkers and children with braces. The field’s dugouts provide room for wheelchairs to maneuver, while wide concrete patios and ramps allow families to easily access the field and viewing areas. As the club’s nominee for the 2004 Roberto Clemente Award, Matheny has also been heavily involved with Cardinals Care, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Walk American Heart Association, and the MDA Labor Day Telethon. Matheny will be presented with the “Champion for Kids” award by David Steward, Variety president and founder of World Wide Technology, on Tuesday, Nov. 9 at Variety’s 44th annual Allocations Luncheon in which more than $600,000 will be distributed to local agencies to fund programs that directly impact St. Louis children with physical and mental disabilities. Prior to the Allocations Luncheon, Variety will host its fifth annual Champion for Children Summit, featuring an educational forum in which keynote speaker Dan Kowitz, senior vice president of IeG Advisory Services Group, will discuss the importance of creating mutually beneficial relationships between non‐profit organizations and sponsors. The event will take place at the Chase Park Plaza, official hotel partner of Variety. About VariEty thE ChildrEn’s Charity of St. Louis For more than 75 years, VariEty thE ChildrEn’s Charity of St. Louis has helped thousands of children with disabilities say “I can” by providing them with vital medical equipment, as well as educational, therapeutic and recreational programs such as the annual Variety Adventure Camp and Children’s Theatre. An international leader in fundraising, Variety the Children’s Charity also distributes grants to more than 80 qualified agencies throughout the St. Louis area to fund programs and/or services that directly impact the lives of children with physical and mental disabilities. For more information on Variety, including upcoming events and volunteer opportunities, visit www.varietystl.org. # # # .