FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 19, 2005
Media Contact:
Heather Johnson
Eric Mower and Associates
585-389-1839
hjohnson@eric.mower.com
JIM KELLY ANNOUNCES THIRD ANNUAL HUNTER’S HOPE CANDLELIGHT BALL IN ROCHESTER ON JULY 29
Former Chairman of RGS Energy and RG&E to serve as Honorary Chair
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Former Buffalo Bills quarterback, Jim Kelly, and his wife, Jill, bring the Hunter’s Hope Candlelight Ball back to Rochester for a third year this summer. The Candlelight Ball is an evening to celebrate life and love for all children while raising funds and awareness to fight leukodystrophies.
The 3rd Annual Hunter’s Hope Candlelight Ball in Rochester will be held Friday, July 29 at 7 p.m. at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Inn & Conference Center. Tom Richards, former Chairman of RGS Energy and Rochester Gas and Electric, serves as chair of the gala event.
Since last year’s Candlelight Ball, Hunter’s Hope celebrated a significant milestone in its Comprehensive Universal Newborn Screening Awareness Campaign. In October, New York State Governor George Pataki announced the expansion of New York’s Newborn Screening Program to change the total number of diseases screened at birth from 11 to 44, making it the most comprehensive free screening program in the nation.
“Rochester’s support through the Candlelight Ball has helped us achieve our goal of expanding the newborn screening program in New York state, but our work is not done,” said Jim Kelly. “Hunter’s Hope will continue to fight for Universal Newborn Screening until every child in the United States is screened for all detectable diseases. We appreciate Rochester’s support of Hunter’s Hope and we look forward to another rewarding evening at this year’s Candlelight Ball.”
“Hunter’s Hope provides a critical service in helping families affected by leukodystrophies, as well as advocating for research and legislation that impacts the health of all children,” said Richards. “I’m honored to be a part of the Hunter’s Hope Candlelight Ball.”
The Caribbean-Themed Event will include island music, entertainment and auctions.
The event also features a Chef’s Extravaganza with over 30 of the finest restaurants and wineries from across the Western New York region. The evening’s entertainment will be announced in the coming weeks. Last year, former Buffalo Bill Doug Flutie performed with his band, The Flutie Gang. Past performers at Hunter’s Hope Candlelight Balls include Jeff Foxworthy, Tim McGraw, Hootie and the Blowfish, Meatloaf, and the Goo Goo Dolls.
1-877-984-HOPE. Current supporters include RIT Inn & Conference Center, Bob Spatola’s Party Rental, Business Strategies Magazine, City Newspaper, Coors Brewing, Molson USA & Wright Wisner Distributing, Digital Innovations Group, DPI, Entercom Marketing Results Group, Eric Mower and Associates, FREETIME MAGAZINE, Northeastern Production Systems, Pepsi Bottling Group of Rochester, Rochester’s WB16, Starbucks, Service Universal Liquor, Tuxedo Junction and WROC-TV Channel 8.
Individual tickets to the Candlelight Ball cost $150 and can be purchased by calling Hunter’s Hope at 1-877-984-HOPE.
The Hunter’s Hope Foundation was established in 1997 by Pro Football Hall of Fame member and former Buffalo Bills Quarterback, Jim Kelly, and his wife, Jill, after their infant son, Hunter was diagnosed with Krabbe Leukodystrophy, an inherited, fatal, nervous system disease. The Foundation is the Kelly’s life long commitment to increase public awareness of leukodystrophies as well as to increase the likelihood of early detection and treatment. Their ultimate goal is to raise money to fund research efforts to identify new treatments, therapies, and a cure for Krabbe and other leukodystrophies. To date the Foundation has awarded approximately $3.8 million to leukodystrophy and other neurological disease related research.
For more information about the Candlelight Ball or Hunter’s Hope, visit www.huntershope.org