Rayfield Wright, Mel Renfro,
Abner Haynes, Sr. &
Other Heroes of Football to Tackle Health Disparities
Foundation to Collaborate
with Ex-Players to Bridge Health Gap
Washington, DC (March 17, 2005) – Prominent
members of the Heroes of Football, a who’s who
of former players, today announced an alliance with
National Minority Health Month Foundation to tackle
the prevalence of chronic diseases among communities
around the country.
“Our team of football players are very concerned
about improving the health status of communities around
the country and are very excited about this new playbook,”
said former Kansas City Chief and football hall of
famer, Abner Haynes, Sr.
The line up of “old school league of football
greats” includes former Washington Redskins
Jean Fugett and Charlie Taylor; former Dallas Cowboys
Rayfield Wright and Mel Renfro; former St. Louis Cardinal
Hurles Scales; former Baltimore Colt James Mannes;
former Atlanta Falcon Gary Burley; former Pittsburgh
Steeler Roy Jefferson; and former New England Patriot
Tony McGee.
“The Heroes of Football are truly an all-star
league of players and the Foundation is delighted
to have them on our team,” said Dr. Gary Puckrein,
Executive Director, NMHMF.
During April, a month designated as minority health
month, the former football legends will join the Foundation
during their 2nd Annual National Health Disparities
Summit for a press conference on April 25, 2005 to
unveil the game plan for the team of health advocates.
Haynes, Sr., Chairman and founder of the organization
of former football players giving back to their community,
is making outreach to their vast membership to travel
the country with the Foundation to build awareness
and disseminate information about the impact of chronic
health disparities. They will collaborate with the
Foundation to implement data-driven campaigns, including
health screenings, evidence-based programs and health
fairs, to address illnesses like diabetes, cancer,
cardiovascular disease, end stage renal disease and
others.
To book interviews with the Heroes of Football or
for more information on the campaign, please contact
Cleve Mesidor at (202) 223-7560 or via email at cmesidor@americanvisions.com.
Additional information about the summit is available
at www.nmhmfsummit.org.
National Minority Health Month Foundation is
a 501(c)(3) organization that promotes the building
of coalitions and evidence-based solutions towards
the elimination of health disparities.
