06/05/03 - HALL OF FAME QUARTERBACK JIM KELLY AND WIFE JILL ANNOUNCE ROCHESTER'S FIRST ANNUAL HUNTER'S HOPE CANDLELIGHT BALL

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly and his wife, Jill, invite Rochester to enjoy an evening of comedy, music and fine dining at the Hunter's Hope Candlelight Ball on July 25, from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at the High Falls Festival Site. The event raises funds to fight Krabbe Disease and other leukodystrophies. Set against the backdrop of the beautiful gorge and falls area, the formal white attire gala will include the tastes of the area's finest restaurants, breweries and wineries. For entertainment, Jim and Jill Kelly secured award-winning comedian Jeff Foxworthy. The Candlelight Ball will also feature a live, silent and Chinese auction. After three years of successful Candlelight Balls in Buffalo, the Kelly's anticipate a spectacular evening in Rochester.

"We always receive phone calls from folks in Rochester asking when we are going to bring the Candlelight Ball to Rochester," said Jim Kelly. "We truly appreciate the incredible support that the Rochester area has given Hunter's Hope and I'm personally looking forward to seeing everyone on July 25."

Corporate sponsorships are still available by contacting Krista Tooze at 716-667-1200 or krista@huntershope.org. Current sponsors include Beau Productions, Bob Spatola Party Rental, Business Strategies Magazine, Clarion Riverside Hotel, Crescent Moon, Eric Mower and Associates, Hyatt Regency Rochester, Infinity Broadcasting, Nextel, Northeastern Production Systems, Tucker Printers, Tuxedo Junction and WROC - TV 8.

Individual tickets to the Candlelight Ball cost $175 and can be purchased by calling Hunter's Hope at 716-667-1200.

Pro Football Hall of Fame member Jim Kelly and his wife, Jill, established The Hunter's Hope Foundation in 1997, when their infant son, Hunter was diagnosed with Krabbe Leukodystrophy. Since the Foundation's inception, remarkable advances have taken place with the use of umbilical cord blood transplants. Children who are diagnosed early can be successfully treated through this procedure. Hunter's Hope is now working on initiating newborn screening for leukodystrophies nationwide. To date, the foundation has awarded approximately $3.5 million to Krabbe and other leukodystrophy research. For more information about the Candlelight Ball or Hunter's Hope, visit www.huntershope.org.

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