Georgia High School Players Earn Spot on Aflac All-American Baseball Team With Chance to Benefit Pediatric Cancer Research
June 01 2006 - 10:37AM
PR Newswire (US)
Aflac combines baseball and cancer research at Turner Field with
the Atlanta Braves COLUMBUS, Ga., June 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Aflac has
announced that 1B Jason Heyward from McDonough's Henry County High
School and LHP Joshua Smoker from Sugar Valley's Calhoun High
School have been named to the 2006 Aflac All- American High School
Baseball Classic roster where they will compete in a game
benefiting pediatric cancer research and treatment. The high school
athletes will be honored on field during a pre-game ceremony at
Turner Field on June 1 where they will be presented with their
official team jersey by Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones.
Justin Jackson, a SS from T.C. Roberson High School in Asheville,
N.C. will also be honored during the pre-game event. The fourth
annual Aflac Classic is a showcase of the country's top rising high
school seniors in an East versus West match-up. The game will be
played on Aug. 12 at San Diego State's Tony Gwynn Stadium broadcast
live on Fox Sports Net at 3 p.m. Eastern. As a part of Aflac's
ongoing commitment to the fight against childhood cancer, all game
proceeds from the 2006 Aflac All- American High School Baseball
Classic will benefit the San Diego Children's Hospital. The Aflac
All-American High School Baseball Classic is endorsed by many of
the game's pillars, including Major League Baseball. Baseball
legend Reggie Jackson will serve as the game's honorary chairman.
"I'm proud to be associated with such an elite event," Jackson
said. "The Aflac All-American game stands for more than just
excellence in youth baseball; it also represents an important
bridge to the community through Aflac's dedication and commitment
to pediatric cancer research and treatment. Together, Aflac and its
event partners teach these outstanding young athletes how to be
role models both on and off the field." The newly named
All-Americans will also take part in a meet and greet session with
Braves players and patients from the Aflac Cancer Center during a
picnic held in the Right Field Hospitality Area of the stadium
prior to the night's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Festivities will include a bubble gum blowing contest between
players and patients hosted by Aflac and the Rally Foundation.
Since 1995, Aflac's support has helped make the Aflac Cancer Center
and Blood Disorders Service of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta one
of the leading childhood cancer hematology, and blood and marrow
transplant programs in the country. Aflac recently surpassed the
$20 million mark in donations to the Aflac Cancer Center. "For the
past three years, the Aflac All-American Baseball Classic has
successfully combined sporting excitement with our core
philanthropic focus," said Al Johnson, 2nd Vice President,
Advertising and Branding at Aflac. "We look forward to continuing
to support the fight against pediatric cancer while showcasing
America's most talented high school baseball players." Today's
announcement is the latest official stop of the 2006 Aflac National
Selection Tour. The selection tour is a multi-city tour that
travels to the hometowns of the Aflac All-Americans to announce
their official selection to the team. Coaches Curing Kids' Cancer,
an organization dedicated to pediatric cancer treatment and
research is the official beneficiary for each Aflac tour stop.
Baseball America and Perfect Game are the official selection
partners for the event and choose the players for their
accomplishments both on, and off the field, including their
involvement in the community. Sports America, Inc., is a sports
marketing and event management firm based out of Rockville, Md.,
which created and currently produces the Aflac Classic. Sports
America also produces the McDonald's All-American High School
Basketball Game and Jordan Classic High School All-Star Basketball
Game. To learn more about the Aflac All-American High School
Baseball Classic, or dates and stops on the official selection
tour, visit http://www.aflacallamerican.com/. For more than 50
years, Aflac products have given policyholders the opportunity to
direct cash where it is needed most when a life-interrupting
medical event causes financial challenges. Aflac is the number one
provider of guaranteed-renewable insurance in the United States and
the number one insurance company in terms of individual insurance
policies in force in Japan. Aflac's insurance products provide
protection to more than 40 million people worldwide. Aflac has been
included in Fortune magazine's listing of America's Most Admired
Companies for six consecutive years and Forbes magazine's Platinum
400 List of America's Best Big Companies for five consecutive
years. In January 2006, Aflac was included in Fortune magazine's
list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America for the
eighth consecutive year. Aflac was also included in Fortune
magazine's list of the Top 50 Employers for Minorities in August
2005, and in September 2005, Aflac Japan was named the Life
Insurance Company of the Year at the Asia Insurance Industry
Awards, sponsored by the Asia Insurance Review. Aflac Incorporated
is a Fortune 500 company listed on the New York Stock Exchange
under the symbol AFL. To find out more about Aflac, visit
aflac.com. (Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041202/CLTH019LOGO) Media
Contacts: Tim Turner Mechell Clark Aflac Incorporated Aflac
Incorporated 706-243-5594 706-243-8004
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041202/CLTH019LOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Aflac Incorporated CONTACT:
Tim Turner, +1-706-243-5594, or , or Mechell Clark,
+1-706-243-8004, or , both of Aflac Incorporated Web site:
http://www.aflacallamerican.com/ http://www.aflac.com/
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