CHICAGO, IL, May 4, 2010 - Chicago Bears' tight end, Greg Olsen, will be participating in the 7th annual Kicks for a Cure kickball tournament July 10th, 2010, at Chicago's Grant Park. The large-scale tournament raises money to support cancer research and care for cancer patients. Olsen has partnered with TMC, a Chicago based division of the $7.6 billion global transportation and logistics services provider C. H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc., to organize the event.
"In 2001, my mother Sue was diagnosed with breast cancer," Olsen said. "Her diagnosis came as a great shock to our family. I am happy to say that through her perseverance and exceptional care she was able to overcome breast cancer. My mom has been a survivor for nine years. Our goal is for everyone who has to go through this terrible ordeal to come out as a survivor, just like my mom."
Registration for the Kicks for a Cure tournament is open to the public and teams can sign up at http://kicksforacure.mytmc.com/. The registration fee for a team of 12 players is $1,200 with all proceeds from the event benefitting Greg Olsen's Foundation, Receptions for Research, which raises money for cancer research and care of cancer patients. C.H. Robinson has committed to matching a percentage of all donations.
Olsen's brother, Chris Olsen, serves as the foundation's executive director. "Our goal is to recruit 60 teams for our tournament," Chris Olsen said. "Each team is also guaranteed to play at least three games. We'll also be providing food and drinks for all of our players. Greg will be out there with a team, so a few lucky participants will have a shot at taking on his team."
TMC has been organizing the Kicks for a Cure tournament for six years and during that time has raised over $750,000 for charitable causes. "What we love about our kickball tournament is that for one day of the year the battle against cancer becomes fun and accessible," said TMC Executive Director, Jordan Kass. "It's one day on the lakefront of Chicago playing kickball for a cause that impacts so many people worldwide."
The Olsen brothers echoed that sentiment. "Who doesn't like kickball and who doesn't want to help fight cancer?" We hope we see you out there – it's a great event for a great cause."
You do not have to play kickball to participate. There are a number of other ways to get involved including:
· Donate products. A tournament like this requires a variety of supplies such as juice, water, and snacks for the hundreds of players and spectators. If you would like to donate items, please contact Jason Chamberlain.
· Purchase an individual or set of day passes. If you don't want to play, but would like to show your support, watch the event, and interact with players you can purchase a pass for $50 per person which includes food and drinks.
· Volunteer. Believe it or not finding individuals to referee games is the event's biggest challenge. This is a simple and easy way to contribute and you might get to referee a few NFL pros. Sign up at http://kicksforacure.mytmc.com/.
· Donate dollars. Every little bit counts, donate today.
· Spread the word. Become a fan on Facebook and view Greg Olsen's just released video about the tournament on You Tube. Encourage your friends, family, and colleagues to these sites and tell them to sign up!
ABOUT RECEPTIONS FOR RESEARCH:
Receptions for Research: The Greg Olsen Foundation is the charitable organization of Greg Olsen. Proceeds go towards various types of cancer, most specifically breast cancer. For more information about Receptions for Research, visit http://www.receptionsforresearch.org.
ABOUT TMC:
C.H. Robinson offers Managed TMS® services through TMC, a global business unit with offices in Chicago and Amsterdam. TMC does not generate revenue by handling freight. It provides fee-based services for technology deployment, day-to-day TMS operation and ongoing process optimization. Managed TMS® Services provide shippers with expertise and technology that drive both immediate and sustained cost savings throughout their transportation networks. Core components of this service include Six Sigma-based process engineering, advanced TMS technology and onsite TMS power-users, who serve as an extension of the shipper's staff. Over the past 10 years, TMC has exceeded client expectations for savings, productivity, supply chain improvements, and carbon footprint reduction. For more information, visit http://www.mytmc.com/
ABOUT C.H. ROBINSON WORLDWIDE, INC.
Founded in 1905, C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc., is a global provider of multimodal logistics services, fresh produce sourcing, and information services to 35,000 customers through a network of more than 235 offices and approximately 7,200 employees around the world. The company works with 47,000 transportation providers worldwide. C.H. Robinson is a Fortune 500 company and had annual revenues of $7.6 billion in 2009.
Through the company and its Foundation, C.H. Robinson and its employees contribute millions of dollars annually to a variety of organizations, including the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Community Health Charities, the American Cancer Society, the American Logistics Aid Network, Children's Hospital and Clinics of Minnesota, Sustainable Harvest International, and the United Way. The company is headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and has been publicly traded on the Nasdaq since 1997. For more information about C.H. Robinson, visit http://www.chrobinson.com/.
