‘MUSCLE TEAM’ SCORES $300,000;
FULL HOUSE OF SPORTS CELEBS SUPPORT MDA
DALLAS, Texas, April 7, 2005 – The Muscular Dystrophy Association’s
Eleventh Annual Muscle Team at Sambuca Uptown last night proved to be
an evening to remember in the fight against muscular dystrophy and in
honoring former Dallas Cowboys’ running back Emmitt Smith.
MDA Muscle Team events offer sports greats the opportunity to share
an evening of fun while raising support for the Association. The Dallas
event brought in more than $300,000 for MDA’s programs helping
people with neuromuscular diseases.
Legendary fullback and Fox Sports analyst Daryl Johnston presented the
Celebrity Champion Award to Smith, as a sports figure who has been particularly
active in philanthropy and community betterment activities. “It’s
a true honor to be part of such a great event with my former championship
teammates,” Smith said. “The funds we’ve raised tonight
provide very necessary support to help folks in the Dallas area who
are affected by these terrible diseases.”
General Mills was recognized for outstanding contributions to MDA with
the Albertsons Excellence Award, and Lana and Barry Andrews accepted
the Scott Murray Corporate Commitment Award on behalf of Andrews Distributing.
Players who shared in the fun and philanthropy of the night included
Ed “Too Tall” Jones, Bill Bates, Cliff Harris, Charles Haley
and current Cowboys Roy Williams and Dat Nguyen.
Dallas Stars Coach Dave Tippett and goalie Marty Turco were on hand,
along with former athletes Phillipe Boucher, Craig Lugwig, Aaron Downey,
Lyle Odelein and Stu Barnes. The Dallas Mavericks were represented by
Assistant Coach Del Harris.
Live auction prizes included a trip for two to the final round of the
2005 Masters Tournament in Augusta, Ga. and a trip for four to Napa
Valley.
VIP sponsors for the evening included American Airlines, Hotel Zaza
and Medical City.
The event earmarked $20,000 of the evening’s proceeds for research
on mitochondrial
myopathy, a neuromuscular disease that took the life of MDA National
Goodwill Ambassador Mattie J.T. Stepanek last year. The disease now
is often called Mattie’s disease.
MDA is a national voluntary health agency working to defeat more than
40 neuromuscular diseases through programs of worldwide research, comprehensive
services, and far-reaching professional and public health education.
The Association’s programs are funded almost entirely by individual
private contributors and local businesses.
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