Ebby Halliday and Representative Dan Branch serve as Masters of Ceremonies
150 of Dallas' most determined young-professionals will take the field August 14th for the 3rd Annual Blondes vs. Brunettes Powder-Puff Football Game benefiting the Greater Dallas Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. The annual game kicks-off with a pre-game show at 7:00pm, with Ebby Halliday, 99 year old real estate mogul and Touchdown Sponsor, flipping the coin at Highlander Stadium at Highland Park High School.
"We are so proud to support the 3rd Annual Blondes vs. Brunettes Football Game as part of our company’s 65th Anniversary celebration,” says Ebby Halliday, founder and chairman of the board of Ebby Halliday Real Estate, Inc. “This impressive group of young men and women has done so much over the past three years to raise funds and much needed awareness for the Alzheimer’s Association. We applaud their efforts and we are honored to be a part of their team.”
The game is comprised of 50 women on each side of the field, representing Team Blonde and Team Brunette, supported by their male coaches, who teach them drills, routes and plays for the game-- all the while, fundraising and raising awareness off the field from June until mid-August. Each player and coach dedicates their summer to the cause: more than 60% of the participants have been touched by Alzheimer's Disease in some way, whether it is a family member, friend or neighbor.
"I joined this organization to be the voice for my mom who is suffering silently from early-onset Alzheimer’s," says Team Brunette rookie Catelyn Cappleman, who attended the game in 2009 and decided to join the 2010 season. "BvB has given me the opportunity to fight back against this disease that has stolen so much from my mom and my family."
“The energy, passion and drive demonstrated by these young professionals, blonde and brunette, to end Alzheimer’s disease within their lifetime is simply amazing,” said John Gilchrist, President & CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association – Greater Dallas Chapter. “They have created a dynamic venue for purposeful action against Alzheimer’s disease. Funds raised from last year’s event have enabled our chapter to enhance its ability in reaching Spanish-speaking households, supporting research efforts, and creating the Young Research Fellows program.”
The last two games have raised a combined $210,000 for bi-lingual programming, research, 24/7 Helpline, and a grant to send two local researchers to ICAD (International Conference for Alzheimer's Disease). The goal for this year's game is to raise $165,000 by game-day. To date, the players and coaches have already raised $119,000, 72% of their goal. Local companies that have stepped-up to sponsor the game to support the cause include Ebby Halliday Companies, FLOSS Dental, Lone Star Beer, Camp Gladiator, The Edgemere, Friedman & Feiger Attorneys at Law, SEG Law Firm, Senior Care Centers and The Biz. WFAA Channel 8’s Amy Vanderoef and Paige Smith of Good Morning Texas will be serving as honorary Blondes and Brunettes on Game-Day while Ty Walker with 1310 The Ticket will call the game for his 2nd year. Representative Dan Branch is also eager to see who wins this year's match-up.
"Over 57,000 North Texans suffer from Alzheimer’s and the disease affects hundreds of thousands of their family members and relatives. I am proud to continue to support these young professionals in the heart of Dallas who are making a difference in the lives of those affected by this disease. If the teams are half as effective on the field as they have been in their fundraising efforts, this should prove to be another great game!" said Representative Dan Branch.
Tickets to the game are included in a $25 donation to BvB Dallas. To donate online and for more information, visit www.bvbdallas.org or www.active.com/donate/bvbdallas
About Blondes vs. Brunettes Dallas:
Blondes vs. Brunettes (BvB) is a powder-puff football game hosted for a day of fun, fellowship, philanthropy and enjoyment as a way of raising money and awareness for the Alzheimer’s Association. Founded by sisters whose father was afflicted by Alzheimer’s, BvB is a personal way for young professionals across the country to raise awareness, funds and support to help eradicate this grave disease.
About the Alzheimer’s Association – Greater Dallas Chapter
The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. The Association is dedicated to finding prevention methods, treatments and an eventual cure for Alzheimer’s. The Greater Dallas Chapter provides assistance and hope to those who are diagnosed or affected by Alzheimer’s disease. Services include a 24-hour helpline, counseling, information and education for caregivers and families, support groups, MedicAlert + Safe Return, training for professionals, community education and government advocacy. The majority of these programs are provided free of charge or at minimal cost to the public. To learn more about the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Dallas Chapter and how you can get involved, please visit www.AlzDallas.org.