October 23, 2014 (Maitland) AutoNation has partnered with the Orlando Sports Foundation (OSF) to become the title sponsor of the AutoNation Cure Bowl, a new post-season NCAA football game whose net proceeds will benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF); CharityWatch’s only A+ rated breast cancer organization in the country. OSF has also teamed with CBS Sports Network to air the AutoNation Cure Bowl live to a national audience on December 19, 2015.
The AutoNation Cure Bowl–BCRF partnership expands AutoNation’s already strong history of charitable involvement focused on cancer-related initiatives. “AutoNation associates from coast to coast have made the battle to find a cure and support those with cancer a priority. Today’s announcement of the AutoNation Cure Bowl will help us continue to raise much needed funds in the fight to beat cancer,” said AutoNation Chairman & CEO, Mike Jackson.
“Bowl Season is one of the most exciting times of the year for college football fans and we are happy to bring the AutoNation Cure Bowl to our viewers,” said Dan Weinberg, Executive Vice President, Programming, CBS Sports. “We are pleased to team with our partners at the American Athletic Conference, as well as the Sun Belt Conference and Orlando Sports Foundation for CBS Sports Network’s inaugural postseason college football game as we showcase the action on the field and help raise funds for breast cancer research.”
While most NCAA bowl games make contributions to charity, few include the name of their cause in their title.
“The AutoNation Cure Bowl is the first of its kind to combine the passions of college football with the importance of supporting breast cancer research,” said Myra Biblowit, President of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. “The funds raised through the AutoNation Cure Bowl will allow the continuation of critical research investigations that are bringing us one step closer to finding the cure.”
The AutoNation Cure Bowl will feature teams from the American Athletic Conference (The American) and the Sun Belt Conference. “We are grateful to AutoNation for their title sponsorship of the AutoNation Cure Bowl,” said Sun Belt Commissioner Karl Benson. “We are honored to participate in an event that will not only showcase the great athletic talent of the Sun Belt Conference, but will also raise awareness and funding to help put an end to breast cancer.” Added The American Commissioner Mike Aresco, “We are pleased to partner with the Orlando Sports Foundation and commend AutoNation and CBS Sports Network for taking the lead in supporting the AutoNation Cure Bowl. By adding the AutoNation Cure Bowl to our already strong bowl line-up, we continue to meet our goal of providing a competitive game and a desirable destination for our student-athletes, coaches and fans. The American Athletic Conference is extremely pleased to support the cause of breast cancer research.”
The Orlando Citrus Bowl will be home to the AutoNation Cure Bowl. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer took part in today’s announcement. “The newly renovated Citrus Bowl will be a spectacular facility to host the AutoNation Cure Bowl,” said Mayor Dyer. “Orlando is delighted to host another nationally televised post-season bowl game, especially one with such an important cause as finding a cure for breast cancer as its focus.”
Alan Gooch has led the volunteer team behind bringing the AutoNation Cure Bowl to reality since 2008 as Executive Director of OSF. “The Orlando Sports Foundation is excited to provide the student athletes of The American and the Sun Belt conferences the opportunity to play in a post season bowl that will be nationally televised on CBS Sports Network,” said Gooch. “We certainly are happy to partner with AutoNation, the largest automotive retailer in the United States, as they join us in this fight against cancer and in support of BCRF, the only A+ rated breast cancer organization in the country.”
The AutoNation Cure Bowl will kick off the NCAA college football bowl season each year on CBS Sports Network. The OSF Board looks forward to making the event more than just a football game. “Partnering with AutoNation and CBS Sports Network expands our reach throughout the country with the hope that more companies and individuals will realize the importance of sponsoring our efforts,” said Megan Dowdy, OSF Board President. “This is not just a football game; this is a battle to protect our grandmothers, mothers, aunts, sisters, daughters, nieces and best friends. Together, we can tackle breast cancer!”
ORLANDO SPORTS FOUNDATION: The Orlando Sports Foundation, Inc. (OSF) was founded in May 2008 and is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to raising funding and awareness for organizations working to find a cure for cancer. OSF will support the Breast Cancer Research Foundation through a minimum $150,000 donation raised by the AutoNation Cure Bowl – a new NCAA college football bowl game to be played December 19, 2015 at the Orlando Citrus Bowl and televised nation-wide on CBS Sports Network. OSF also hosts its annual Strike Out Breast Cancer bowling event and is the beneficiary of other community events such as Fire in the Park – Avalon Park Chili Challenge. OSF is led by a volunteer Board of Directors and Advisory Board. For more, please visit www.orlandosportsfoundation.com and www.www.curebowl.com.
Media contact: Christine Wydra, OSF Board / PR Committee Chair: 407.968.9464
AUTONATION
In 2014, AutoNation concentrated its vast community outreach and charitable involvement to focus on cancer related initiatives. Through a partnership with Indy500 champion Ryan Hunter-Reay and his charity Racing for Cancer, AutoNation has raised over $2M in their coast to coast fight against this deadly disease. AutoNation’s latest partnership with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and the Orlando Sports Foundation’s AutoNation Cure Bowl is the next step in the continued involvement to help fund research to aide in eradicating this deadly disease. With over 23,000 associates coast to coast, AutoNation is America’s largest automotive dealership group and is using their brand to fund research and bring attention to a disease that will be responsible for more than 585,720 deaths in the United States and Canada this year.
Media contact: Marc Cannon, S.V.P., Corporate Communications, Public Policy: 954.769.3146
BREAST CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION:
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) advances the world’s most promising research to eradicate breast cancer. Founded by Evelyn H. Lauder in 1993, BCRF has raised more than $500 million to fuel discoveries in tumor biology, genetics, prevention, treatment, survivorship and metastasis, making it one of the largest non-governmental funders of breast cancer research in the world. This year, BCRF is investing $58.6 million in research, including $11.6 million to the international Evelyn H. Lauder Founder’s Fund focused on metastasis, to support more than 220 researchers at leading medical institutions across six continents. By spending 91 cents of every dollar on research and public awareness programs, BCRF remains one of the nation’s most fiscally responsible nonprofits. BCRF is the only breast cancer organization with an “A+” from CharityWatch, and has been awarded Charity Navigator’s highest rating of four stars 12 times since 2002. For more information, please visit: www.bcrfcure.org.
Media contact: Stephanie Kauffman, Chief Communications & Engagement Officer: 914.525.0361
CBS SPORTS NETWORK:
CBS Sports Network, the 24-hour cable home of CBS Sports, airs more than 400 live games annually, showcasing an array of college and professional sports, as well as in-depth studio shows, documentaries and original programs. CBS Sports Network also provides extensive shoulder programming around CBS Sports’ Championship events, including the Super Bowl, The Masters and PGA Championship. CBS Sports Network is available across the country through local cable, video and telco providers including Verizon FiOS Channel 94 and AT&T U-Verse Channel 643 (1643 in HD) and via satellite on DirecTV Channel 221 and Dish Network Channel 158. For more information, including a full programming schedule and how to get CBS Sports Network, go to www.cbssportsnetwork.com.
Media contact: Mariel Brady, Communications Manager: 212.975.5373
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE:
The American Athletic Conference (The American), which operated as the Big East Conference from 1979 to 2013, is a proud member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and located in Providence, Rhode Island. The American includes teams from the following 11 member institutions: UCF, Cincinnati, UConn, East Carolina, Houston, Memphis, USF, SMU, Temple, Tulane and Tulsa. Navy joins as a football member in 2015-16.
For more information on the Conference and its membership, please visit www.TheAmerican.org
Media contact: Megan Morgan, Associate Commissioner, Communications: 401.272.9108, ext. 130
SUN BELT CONFERENCE:
The Sun Belt Conference mantra “Together We Rise” exemplifies what has quickly become America’s most up-and-coming collegiate athletics conference. Founded in 1976, the Sun Belt Conference has a permanent seat on the NCAA’s 18-member Board of Directors. As a result, the conference has a crucial voice in some of the most pressing issues in college athletics. The Sun Belt Conference’s membership consists of 11 football members: Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Idaho, UL Lafayette, UL Monroe, New Mexico State, South Alabama, Texas State and Troy. UALR and UT Arlington compete in all-sports as non-football members while Idaho and New Mexico State are football only members.
For more information on the Sun Belt Conference, visit www.sunbeltsports.org
Media contact: John McElwain, Associate Commissioner/Chief Branding and Communications Officer
