MEDIA ADVISORY

TO:                      News Directors and Education Reporters

FROM:                 UAF University Relations

SUBJECT:            UAF Athletes are Big Brothers and Big Sisters for a Day

LOCATION:            Saturday, Sept. 9 – Patty Center, UAF Campus

For the second year in a row, UAF athletes are opening their hearts and clearing their schedules for local kids in search of a Big Brother or a Big Sister. As their contribution to the United Way's Day of Caring, the Nanooks are hosting a group of young participants in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program who are currently unmatched with an older friend and role model.

Participants will meet at the Patty Center on campus at 10 a.m. on Saturday,

Sept. 9, when the unmatched kids will be paired with a member of a UAF athletic team, from hockey, basketball and volleyball players to riflemen/women and cross-country skiers. The newly-matched combos will engage in several activities until 1 p.m., including three-legged races, gunny sack relay races and a shoe-kicking contest.

Last year's event was very successful and led to several UAF athletes becoming active participants in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. The UAF Athletic Program has a solid and longstanding relationship with this local non-profit organization.

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CONTACT:; Taber Rehbaum, Executive Director, Big Brothers Big Sisters Greater Fairbanks Area at (907) 452-8118; or Kip Harmon, Associate Director, UAF Athletics, at (907) 474-6830.

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