NFL Star Returns Home to Host First Annual Mike Peterson Elite 7 on 7 Championship

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Florida, Florida, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) March 25, 2011 -- Media Contact
Michelle Robie
Executive Director, Mike Peterson Foundation
(727) 501-6767

For Immediate Release

NFL Star Returns Home to Host First Annual
Mike Peterson Elite 7 on 7 Championship

March 25, 2011 (GAINESVILLE, FL) – Atlanta Falcons’ veteran linebacker, Mike Peterson, understands home is where the heart is so home is never too far from his mind when planning events to better his community. On Saturday & Sunday, June 18-19, 2011, at Jonesville Park located at 3401 NW 143rd Street, Gainesville, FL all area Florida and Georgia High School football teams are invited to participate in the Inaugural Mike Peterson Elite 7 on 7 Championship to benefit the Mike Peterson Foundation (MPF).

The tournament, hosted by the MPF, will be a Round Robin format with single elimination on Sunday to determine champion. The weekend will include pro player autograph sessions with notable NFL Players scheduled to appear to include Fred Taylor, Dexter Jackson, Marcus Stroud, Gerard Warren and Adrian Peterson to name a few.

The cost to enter the tournament is $450 per team with participants receiving goodie bags and an Official Mike Peterson Elite 7 on 7 Championship T-Shirt. Space is limited to 48 teams. Hotel discounts are available to teams as well.

There are limited sponsorship opportunities for area companies and organizations to get involved.

“Giving back to my hometown community is something that I’ve been committed to throughout my time in the NFL. This community has shaped me and I want to give the same experience to other kids to help develop them into tomorrow’s leaders,” explains Mike Peterson, who played collegiately for the Gators and is being inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as part of the 2011 class. “It is a great point of pride to be able to bring a one-of-a-kind highly competitive tournament to our region to provide high school football teams the opportunity to compete against the very best the Southeast has to offer to prepare their teams for their 2011 seasons.”

Jack Hughes, Executive Director of the Gainesville Sports Commission agrees.

“The Gainesville Sports Commission is extremely pleased to assist the Mike Peterson Foundation in hosting this tournament. Mike is one of those great examples of the professional athlete that remembers his roots," said Hughes. "His work in Alachua and Gainesville with youth has long been a cornerstone to his professional career. We look forward to this and many more events to support his efforts.”

For more information on how to get your team registered for the Inaugural Mike Peterson 7 on 7 Championship visit: www.mp7on7.com or Email: info@mp7on7.com. The Mike Peterson Foundation can be reached at: 352-897-0673.

About The Mike Peterson Foundation

The Mike Peterson Foundation was formed to benefit underserved youth and socio-economically challenged families in his hometown of Alachua, FL and his NFL communities of Jacksonville and Atlanta. Since its inception, the foundation has sponsored a number of community events, including a Back to School Backpack Distribution, Thanksgiving Meal Distributions, and Holiday Gift Parties for Children, a Game Day Youth Ticket Program and Free Youth Football Camps. For more information on the Mike Peterson Foundation visit: www.mikepetersonfoundation.com.

About the Gainesville Sports Commission (GSC):
The Gainesville Sports Commission is the nearly 25-year old sports organization responsible for marketing Gainesville and Alachua County in its efforts to bring sports competitions that positively affect the local economy and quality of life. Along with its partner, Visit Gainesville, more than $20 million is added to the local economy from 40-plus sports events that draw visitors to the community each year.

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