NEW YORK, Sept. 19, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Focused on highlighting and increasing the benefits of a TEAM approach to philanthropy, NFL Hall of Famer and founder of All Stars Helping Kids, Ronnie Lott, has partnered with NASDAQ to host the inaugural All Stars Sports, Business and Philanthropy Luncheon at the NASDAQ MarketSite on Thursday, September 27 at 12:30 p.m., it was announced today. All Stars Helping Kids will also be a part of the NASDAQ Closing Bell ceremony on September 27.
The luncheon will bring together corporate leaders and athletes to discuss pooling their resources to improve the learning environment for children in low-income communities. All Stars also will deliver its first National Community Fund grants with donations of $100,000 to the Knowledge Is Power Program and Sports4Kids.
Invited guests include: NFL greats Marcus Allen and Carl Banks; Jim Herbert, CEO First Republic Bank; Chuck Smith, formerly President and CEO AT&T West; NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman; William Watkins, CEO Seagate Technology as well as representatives from the NFL, NBA and Major League Baseball among others. Former U.S. Congressman and NFL great Jack Kemp will deliver the keynote address.
"The All Stars team approach underscores the simple notion that we can achieve more collectively than we can individually," Lott said. "Athletes have an opportunity to leverage their popularity and build lasting business relationships that can no doubt have a profound impact on children and families in their communities. We want to enhance that bridge between sports and business to do more to help people in need throughout this country."
In 2006, All Stars Helping Kids created a National Community Fund that combines the resources of athletes, individual donors and corporate partners earmarked for improving the learning environment for disadvantaged children. Emmitt Smith and Marcus Allen have joined the effort and First Republic Bank has signed on as a national corporate partner donating $200,000 annually.
In addition, All Stars Helping Kids has expanded its National Community Fund to allow professional athletes of all sports to use the platform to give back to their communities. Instead of facing the administrative costs and challenges of running their own foundations, the All Stars program provides athletes with the infrastructure and proven model that ensures the maximum amount of money will be funneled back into their communities.
NASDAQ is the largest U.S. equities exchange. With approximately 3,200 companies, it lists more companies and, on average, trades more shares per day than any other U.S. market. NASDAQ has had a relationship with ASHK for more than 10 years and is on the advisory committee.
About All Stars Helping Kids
Founded in 1989 by NFL Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, the mission of All Stars Helping Kids is to promote a safe, healthy and rigorous learning environment for disadvantaged children. All Stars Helping Kids achieves its mission by pooling the resources of athletes, corporations and individuals to provide financial and technical assistance to high-quality academic and physical enrichment programs working with disadvantaged children.