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Building Hope: Youth to Benefit from Launch of The Torii Hunter Project

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Media Contact:
Mike Dillon or Jennifer Marisnick
Reynolds Sports Management
951.784.6333
reynoldssports@gmail.com
jmarisnick@aol.com

Building Hope: Youth to Benefit from Launch of The Torii Hunter Project

LAS VEGAS (Dec. 9, 2008) – Torii Hunter, in partnership with the Heart of a Champion Foundation, and in conjunction with the Angels Baseball Foundation, today launched The Torii Hunter Project’s Education Initiative, to bring character building programs and college scholarships to students in four states. Students in Anaheim, CA, Pine Bluff, AR, Las Vegas, NV, and Minneapolis, MN will benefit from the program.

The Torii Hunter Project Education Initiative, believed to be the first such comprehensive educational effort initiated by a professional athlete, officially kicked off with an announcement at the Bellagio Hotel. The initiative, which will be operated by the Heart of a Champion Foundation, focuses on two aspects: the Heart of a Champion character education curriculum, which will be delivered to middle school and junior high school students in Anaheim, CA, Pine Bluff, AR, and Minneapolis, MN; and the Hunter’s Hundred scholarship program, which will provide college scholarships to 100 students from Anaheim, Pine Bluff and Las Vegas, NV over the next four years. The initiative has a dedicated website, www.toriihunterproject.com.

“The way I grew up was pretty tough, I vowed to myself, that if I ever got the opportunity to help anybody that I was going to do it. That's one of the reasons why I'm so passionate about helping kids. Seeing the difference I can make in somebody's life is powerful. I'm glad that I can in some small way give back, because I feel blessed to be where I'm at.”

The focus on character development and assisting students with a college education is important to Hunter who has seen these as two key elements for young people to have an opportunity for a successful future.

“By combining these two areas in this initiative, Torii believes he will be able to help better prepare secondary school students for their future through effective character training, and then provide a means for them to further their academic pursuits by helping them attend college,” said Steve Riach, Founder and Board Chairman of the Heart of a Champion Foundation, Hunter’s partner in the effort. “It is a comprehensive approach to giving students the opportunity to elevate their lives, receive a quality education, and be better prepared for the future. We are excited to partner with Torii.”

The Heart of a Champion program is regarded as the nation’s premier character education program for secondary school students. The comprehensive curriculum focuses on nine core character traits: Commitment, Leadership, Perseverance, Teamwork, Respect, Integrity, Responsibility, Self Control and Compassion, and is delivered over the entire nine-month school year. The program incorporates innovative print, video and online tools to instill and reinforce positive character and life skills. For the past eight years, the program has produced measurable results in schools in 18 states. In this initiative, the program will initially impact approximately 7,000 students in Anaheim, Pine Bluff and Minneapolis. The Angels Foundation is partnering with Torii to reach students in the Anaheim area with the program.

Hunter’s Hundred will provide a total of 100 scholarships to qualifying students during the years 2009-2012. Students will be required to meet certain criteria, including, but not limited to, financial need, academic standing and attendance, and will be selected without regard to race, gender or ethnicity.

Each year, beginning with the 2009-10 school year, 25 scholarships will be presented to select high school graduates. The recipients will be selected from the Orangewood Children’s Home in Orange, CA, the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy in Las Vegas, NV, and the Pine Bluff, AR school district.

Andre Agassi commented, “We are grateful that Torii Hunter has selected Agassi Prep as a recipient of this significant scholarship gift. As a college preparatory school, our ultimate goal is to fulfill our students’ dreams to go to college. Torii Hunter clearly shares our belief that with education, there is hope.”

The overall goal of the initiative is to raise 5 million dollars over the next 4 years to fund both aspects. Reaching this goal will enable The Torii Hunter Project to provide the Heart of a Champion program to over 50,000 middle school and junior high students, and to fund college scholarships for at least 100 high school graduates.

“I am excited about what this initiative will accomplish,” Hunter said. “Ultimately, if we assist students in their efforts to prepare for and attend college, these students will ‘repay’ our society by entering society and the workforce as adult men and women of character who will positively impact their families, their places of work, and their communities.”

About The Torii Hunter Project
The Torii Hunter Project is a comprehensive, long-term effort to impact youth in need in various parts of the United States. The project has four areas of focus related to youth: Sports, Community, Education, and Wellness. Torii and his wife Katrina have personally contributed over $1 million to the project, and is joining with other partners to fund efforts in each area of The Torii Hunter Project. These efforts include youth athletic facilities in Southern California and Pine Bluff, AR; assistance for children in need, homeless families, children with terminal illnesses, and other community-based and wellness support. More information is available at www.toriihunterproject.com.

About The Heart of a Champion
The Heart of a Champion Foundation, a 501c3 based in Dallas, TX, was founded in 1997, and for the past 8 years has provided character programs to middle school and junior high students in 18 states. Heart of a Champion partners with entities such as Coca-Cola, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Dallas Cowboys, the Houston Texans, Express Professional Services, and individuals to impact youth across America with proven effective character training tools. Heart of a Champion also offers ethics and character training programs for corporations and businesses, working with Fortune 100 and 500 companies to produce measurable results and bottom-line change. For information, please visit www.heartofachampion.org or www.hoctraining.com.

About The Angels Baseball Foundation
Through their involvement in a variety of outreach programs and non-profit organizations, Angels Baseball has proven to be a valuable member of the surrounding community. The Angels Baseball Foundation focuses on initiatives aimed to create and improve Education, Healthcare, Arts & Sciences, and Community related youth programs throughout the region, in addition to providing children the opportunity to experience the great game of baseball and its countless positive attributes.

Since its inception in 2004, the Angels Baseball Foundation has awarded many grants to worthy organizations throughout the community, ranging from music programs to at-risk youth shelters. Laurel House and Family Solutions have each been awarded these grants, as they aim to improve the mental and social well being of disadvantaged youths. The University of California and the California State systems have also benefited from the Foundation. This year, the Angels Baseball Foundation established the Angels Scholars program and provided $4,000 scholarships to five academically talented, financially disadvantaged public middle school students in Orange County.

The Angels work with various groups that promote the health of the community through awareness, treatment and research programs. With a common goal of improving the lives of others, the club teams with healthcare organizations such as Anaheim Memorial, Orange Coast Memorial, Children's Hospital & Health Systems Foundation, Healthy Smiles for Kids of Orange County, the Orange County Burn Association and the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation.

The Angels Baseball Foundation also takes great pride in supporting nation-wide youth programs such as the Boys & Girls Club and the Jackie Robinson Foundation, as well as local programs like Little Leagues throughout the area. Additionally, the Foundation provides financial assistance to youth baseball clinics, camps and recreational programs that promote the game of baseball and softball. Over the past two years, the Foundation has contributed over a half a million dollars to these causes. Together with the Angels Baseball Foundation, these local and national organizations help shape the lives of thousands and, in many cases, help nurture the hopes and dreams of the countless youths involved.

The majority of the funding the Angels Baseball Foundation receives comes from team fundraisers and donations from local citizens and private organizations. By simply donating $25 to the Angels Baseball Foundation, fans have the opportunity to post a birthday, anniversary, or welcome message during a game on the Angel Vision Board. One can become a permanent part of Angel Stadium of Anaheim by purchasing a personalized brick for $99 that will be placed at the stadium's main entrance.
While these may appear to be small individual rewards, together they allow the Angels Baseball Foundation to fulfill its goal of assisting community members and organizations throughout the Greater Los Angeles Area.

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