Konica Minolta Colorful Tomorrow Foundation Donates Tickets to Baltimore City Students for Konica Minolta Face-Off Classic

Lacrosse Players From the Baltimore City Youth Lacrosse Club and KIPP Ujima Village Academy to Attend This Weekend's Traditional Start of the Lacrosse Season


RAMSEY, NJ and BALTIMORE, MD--(Marketwire - February 25, 2009) - When Duke-Maryland and Johns Hopkins-Princeton go head to head during the Konica Minolta Face-Off Classic on February 28, there will be 100 very special guests at M&T Stadium in Baltimore there to watch the games, thanks to the Konica Minolta Colorful Tomorrow Foundation (CTF), the nonprofit, 501(c)(3) charitable organization established by Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A. that focuses its efforts on the creation of more colorful and better tomorrows for children.

As part of its continued efforts to support local communities in which the company maintains a presence, the CTF is donating 100 game tickets to the Gardenville Gators of the Baltimore City Youth Lacrosse Club and the lacrosse team at the KIPP Ujima Village Academy.

Established in 2003, the Baltimore City Youth Lacrosse Team started with one team, and today has grown into a championship program with more than 250 players on 10+ teams. The program was started by Cameron Battle, whose vision it was to introduce the game of lacrosse to the inner city youth of Baltimore. In addition to being continually taught the fundamentals of Lacrosse along with the competitiveness of the sport, the Gardenville Gators instruct their players about the importance of sportsmanship in sports and in life.

KIPP Ujima Village Academy is the highest-performing school serving middle grades in Baltimore City and one of the highest-performing schools in Maryland. KIPP Ujima Village Academy is part of the Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP) Network, which constitutes schools that are free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public schools where underserved students develop the knowledge, skills and character traits needed to succeed in top-quality high schools, colleges and the competitive world beyond. The lacrosse program was started in 2008, providing the participants with the experience of a competitive team sports atmosphere and a world beyond their daily environment.

"Our goal with the Konica Minolta Colorful Tomorrow Foundation is to connect with our local communities and a big part of that initiative is helping young students experience high profile events such as the Konica Minolta Face-Off Classic," said Jun Haraguchi, President and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Konica Minolta Colorful Tomorrow Foundation, Inc. "We are proud to be able to step up and provide these young lacrosse players with a chance to experience lacrosse on the collegiate level, and hope they are engaged to become the next-generation of great college lacrosse players and business leaders."

"On behalf of the Gardenville Gators Lacrosse program, I would like to thank the Konica Minolta Colorful Tomorrow Foundation for its support with this endeavor," said Michael "Tiger" McKinnon, Assistant Director, Gators Lacrosse. "Our kids attended the Konica Minolta Face-Off Classic last year and had an unforgettable experience. They can't wait to be there again and see the action."

"On behalf of the KIPP Ujima Village Academy, I would like to thank the Konica Minolta Colorful Tomorrow Foundation for its support with this endeavor," said Nathaniel Badder, Head Coach of the KIPP Boys' Lacrosse Team. "Part of our mission is to use lacrosse to show our team a world beyond their own, and I am sure that our boys will be both awed and inspired by what they see on the field and will greatly appreciate the opportunity to experience an outstanding event like the Konica Minolta Face-Off Classic."

Ticket Information

Ticket prices for 2009 will be $10 each for groups of 10 or more, $20 each for Lower Level reserved seats and $30 each for Club Level seats. All seats for the event are reserved and lacrosse fans are urged to make their plans early to reserve the best seats in the house.

Inside Lacrosse will be providing more information regarding event ticket sales in the coming weeks. Lacrosse fans interested in ticket information can also call the Baltimore Ravens box office at 410-261-RAVE or go online to www.ticketmaster.com.

Fans can also go online to www.faceoffclassic.com to download a ticket order form and find out the latest information regarding the 2009 Konica Minolta Face-Off Classic.

Team Practice Schedule - Friday, February 27

11.00a to 12.30p / Johns Hopkins University (Ravens Locker Room 2) - M&T Bank Stadium

12.30p to 2.00p / University of Maryland (Visitors Locker Room 2) - M&T Bank Stadium

2.00p to 3.30p / Princeton University (Visitors Locker Room 1) - M&T Bank Stadium

3.30p to 5.00p / Duke University (Ravens Locker Room 1) - M&T Bank Stadium

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About Konica Minolta

Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. is a leader in advanced imaging and networking technologies for the desktop to the print shop. In 2008, Konica Minolta was recognized as the #1 Brand for Customer Loyalty in the MFP Office Copier Market by Brand Keys. For more information, please visit www.kmbs.konicaminolta.us.

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