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Team ESPN

Team ESPN, the corporate outreach program of ESPN, Team ESPN encompasses ESPN's multi-faceted community relations initiatives, including volunteerism, corporate giving and cause marketing, while utilizing its diverse media assets.

Through Team ESPN, ESPN employees and fans join together to make a difference in the communities in which we operate.

FANS HELPING FANS ®

THE V FOUNDATION AND ESPN TEAM UP WITH ST. JUDE AND

NBA CARES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST PEDIATRIC CANCER

- This Unique Collaboration is Highlighted by Support from Hoops for St. Jude Ambassadors Pau Gasol, Marc Gasol, David Lee, Kevin Love,

Lionel Hollins and George Karl -

NEW YORK. (February 21, 2013) - This week, The V Foundation for Cancer Research and ESPN are teaming up with the National Basketball Association (NBA) and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in the fight against pediatric cancer by raising awareness and funds to support lifesaving work for children.

Tipping off Feb. 24, and continuing through March 4, the NBA family - led by Hoops for St. Jude ambassadors and ESPN commentators - will engage fans through this unique relationship, designed to advance cancer research and patient care benefitting children and families battling pediatric cancer. One hundred percent of donations to The V Foundation from this campaign will go directly towards cancer research benefitting St. Jude's patients. Together they form a powerful force in pediatric cancer research.

"The work that St. Jude Children's Research Hospital does is nothing short of amazing," said Los Angeles Lakers forward and third-year Hoops for St. Jude Ambassador Pau Gasol. "I have visited the hospital many times and have witnessed first-hand the impact of the support it receives. Funding from The V Foundation makes our fight against cancer even stronger. St. Jude's lifesaving work wouldn't be possible without the generosity of others."

March 4, the final day of the campaign, marks the 20 ^th anniversary of The V Foundation, which was founded in 1993 by ESPN and legendary N.C. State basketball coach and ESPN commentator, the late Jim Valvano. As a cancer patient, Valvano worked to eradicate the disease by championing investment in promising young cancer researchers. To date, with ESPN's leadership, The V Foundation has helped carry his dream forward by awarding more than $100 million in cancer research grants. This new endeavor will allow the organizations to work together to help make the shared vision of a world free of pediatric cancer a reality.

St. Jude and The V Foundation are joined by ESPN and the NBA, who have committed to promoting the campaign within a slate of nationally-televised games during Hoops for St. Jude week and via a new public service announcement that will air throughout the week on ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV.

"Working in collaborations to eradicate cancer is more important now than ever before," said Susan Braun, CEO of The V Foundation. "Cancer is a complex and devastating disease. We dedicate this important collaboration to children facing cancer and their loved ones, and we are honored to take part."

The contributions of St. Jude supporters enable the hospital to treat the toughest cases of childhood cancer, with some of the best outcomes in the world. Best of all, no family ever pays St. Jude for anything. St. Jude has literally changed the way the world treats childhood cancer and has helped push overall survival rates from 20 to 80 percent since the hospital opened in 1962. St. Jude freely shares its research discoveries with doctors and scientists everywhere, so that one child saved at St. Jude means thousands more saved around the world.

"'Your child has cancer' may be the four scariest, most devastating words a parent could ever hear, and they mark the beginning of one of the most daunting battles children and their families could ever face," said Richard Shadyac Jr., CEO of ALSAC/St. Jude. "St. Jude has made incredible progress in the fight against pediatric cancer, but it's a fight that wages on. We are blessed to have allies like The V Foundation, ESPN and the NBA in arming our doctors and scientists with the resources they need, introducing more people to our lifesaving work and inviting them to join us in our mission."

Fans will have the opportunity to support the pediatric cancer awareness campaign in a variety of ways, including donating at www.stjude.org/hoops or www.jimmyv.org/nba , or donating $10 by texting HOPE to 50333 or JIMMYV to 80888 (message and data rates may apply).

Schedule of Nationally Televised NBA Games: Feb. 24 - March 4 (EST)

Sun., 2/24 MEM @ BKN; 7pm/ESPN

Sun., 2/24 CHI @ OKC; 9:30pm/ESPN

Mon., 2/25 BOS @ UTA; 9pm/NBATV

Tues., 2/26 FAN NIGHT/NBATV

Wed., 2/27 GSW @ NYK; 8pm/ESPN

Wed., 2/27 DEN @POR; 10:30pm/ESPN

Thurs., 2/28 MIN @ LAL; 10:30pm/TNT

Fri., 3/1 MEM @ MIA; 8pm/ESPN

Fri., 3/1 OKC@DEN; 10:30pm/ESPN

Sat., 3/2 GSW @ PHI; 7pm/NBATV

Sat., 3/2 MIN @ POR; 10pm/NBATV

Sun., 3/3 CHI @ IND; 8pm/ESPN

Mon., 3/4 MIA @ MIN; 8pm/NBATV

Schedule of Nationally Broadcast NBA Games on ESPN Radio: Feb. 24 - March 3 (EST)

Sun., 2/24 LAL @ DAL; 1pm/ESPN Radio

Thurs., 2/28 PHI @CHI; 8pm/ESPN Radio

Sun., 3/3 MIA @ NYC; 1pm/ESPN Radio

Sun., 3/3 OKC @ LAC; 3:30pm/ESPN Radio

Editor's Note:

Interviews, Hoops ambassador quotes, b-roll, video and photos available upon request.

About NBA Cares

NBA Cares is the league's social responsibility initiative that builds on the NBA's long tradition of addressing important social issues in the United States and around the world. Through this umbrella program, the NBA, its teams and players have donated than $210 million to charity, completed more than 2.3 million hours of hands-on community service, and created more than 760 places where kids and families can live, learn, or play, in 24 countries or territories on five continents. NBA Cares works with internationally recognized youth-serving programs that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes, including: KaBOOM!, Special Olympics, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, UNICEF, the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis.

About St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Since opening 50 years ago, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has changed the way the world treats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. No family ever pays St. Jude for the care their child receives and, for every child treated here, thousands more have been saved worldwide through St. Jude discoveries. The hospital has played a pivotal role in pushing U.S. pediatric cancer survival rates from 20 to 80 percent overall, and is the first and only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted to children. It is also a leader in the research and treatment of blood disorders and infectious diseases in children. St. Jude was founded by the late entertainer Danny Thomas, who believed that no child should die in the dawn of life. Join that mission by visiting stjude.org or following us on facebook.com/stjude and twitter.com/stjude.

About The V Foundation

The V Foundation for Cancer Research was founded in 1993 by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano, legendary North Carolina State basketball coach and ESPN commentator. Since 1993, The Foundation has funded more than $100 million in cancer research grants nationwide. It awards 100 percent of all direct cash donations and net proceeds of events directly to cancer research and related programs. Administrative and fundraising expenses are paid by their endowment. The Foundation distributes grants through a competitive awards process strictly supervised by a Scientific Advisory Board. For more information on The V Foundation or to make a donation, please visit www.jimmyv.org.

About Team ESPN

Team ESPN, the corporate outreach program of ESPN, encompasses ESPN's multi-faceted community relations initiatives, including volunteerism, corporate giving and cause marketing, while utilizing its diverse media assets. Through Team ESPN, ESPN employees and fans join together to make a difference in the communities in which we work. Its slogan is "Fans Helping Fans."® www.teamespn.com .

For more information contact:

Mike Bulthaus, ALSAC/St. Jude, mike.bulthaus@stjude.org , 901-578-6841

Madeline Wehle Crandall, NBA, mcrandall@nba.com , 212-407-8284

Sherrie Mazur, The V Foundation, smazur@jimmyv.org , 919-380-9505

Ben Cafardo, ESPN, ben.cafardo@espn.com , 860-766-3496

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Team ESPN is extremely saddened about the tragic events and loss of lives in Newtown, Ct., which is only about 30 miles from our world headquarters in Bristol. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and the entire Newtown community.

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Two-day event to showcase eight regionalized games, and four national telecasts

ESPN will show an event-high 24 teams across ESPN2 and ESPNU Sunday, Feb. 17 and Monday, Feb. 18 as part of the Play 4Kay women's basketball initiative - in support of the Kay Yow Cancer Fund®, in partnership with the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and The V Foundation, for women's cancer research. Play 4Kay is in its seventh year and is in memory of former North Carolina State head coach Kay Yow, who died Jan. 24, 2009, after a long, courageous battle with breast cancer. Yow had been a member of The V Foundation Board of Directors.

Play 4Kay will showcase eight regionalized games in high definition within two ESPN2 telecast windows on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET and 5 p.m. The majority of the country will see the best action of the day with whip-around coverage between sites and updates from other games. In the 16 home markets of the competing teams, ESPN2 will start and remain primarily with the game of local interest. Also, as part of the initiative, are two full-national telecasts on ESPNU at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., plus two Big Monday Presented by Bud Light games on ESPN2 on Monday, Feb. 18, at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.

ESPN3 will have the eight regionalized games in their entirety, while all the ESPNU and Big Monday games will be available on computers at WatchESPN.com and on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app for fans who receive their video subscription from an affiliated provider.

Highlights

Seventeen teams in the Play 4Kay schedule are 2012 NCAA Championship participants, including all four Women's Final Four teams - Baylor, Connecticut, Stanford and Notre Dame.

Sixteen teams are ranked in an early preseason poll by ESPN.com columnist Charlie Creme, including No. 1 Baylor, No. 2 Connecticut, No. 4 Maryland, No. 5 Kentucky, No. 6 Stanford, No. 8 Notre Dame, No. 10 St. John's, No. 11 Louisville, No. 12 Oklahoma, No. 14 Georgia Tech, No. 17 Texas A&M, No. 18 Purdue, No. 20 Vanderbilt, No. 21 Tennessee, No. 22 Kansas and No. 24 Iowa.

There are five matchups featuring top 25 teams, including a potential No. 1 vs. No. 2 game

Two full-national telecasts on ESPNU showcasing DePaul at No. 11 Louisville at 1:30 p.m. and No. 6 Stanford at UCLA at 3:30 p.m.

The Big Monday Presented by Bud Light doubleheader on Feb. 18 featuring SEC rivals No. 5 Kentucky at No. 17 Texas A&M at 7 p.m. and a non-conference battle between No. 1 Baylor at No. 2 Connecticut at 9 p.m.

In addition, another top five team - No. 4 Maryland plays at Virginia at 5 p.m.

The Play 4Kay slate features two of the most touted women's basketball seniors in the nation - 2012 consensus national player of the year Baylor senior Brittney Griner and Notre Dame senior All-American Skylar Diggins.

Six returning WBCA Coaches' All-America Team members - Baylor's Griner and junior Odyssey Sims, Notre Dame's Diggins, Connecticut junior Bria Hartley, Maryland junior Alyssa Thomas and Stanford junior Chiney Ogwumike.

Kay Yow Legacy

Yow's coaching career spanned more than 38 years, including 34 with NC State. She had a record of 737-344, which encompassed 20 NCAA championship bids, a Women's Final Four appearance in 1998 and four ACC Tournament championships. She also coached the U.S. Olympic women's team to a gold medal in 1988 and was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002 and will be going into the inaugural NC State4 Hall of Fame.

2013 Play 4Kay Schedule (Subject to change)

Date	Time (ET)	Game/Commentator	Network(s)
Sun, Feb 17	1:30 p.m.	DePaul at No. 11 Louisville	ESPNU / WatchESPN
	2:30 p.m.	No. 8 Notre Dame at Marquette**	ESPN2 / ESPN3
		No. 12 Oklahoma at Kansas**	ESPN2 / ESPN3
		No. 14 Georgia Tech at NC State**	ESPN2 / ESPN3
		Alabama at Auburn**	ESPN2 / ESPN3
	3:30 p.m.	No. 6 Stanford at UCLA	ESPNU / WatchESPN
	5 p.m.	No. 4 Maryland at Virginia**	ESPN2 / ESPN3
		Cincinnati at No. 10 St. Johnâ€™s**	ESPN2 / ESPN3
		No. 20 Vanderbilt at No. 21 Tennessee**	ESPN2 / ESPN3
		No. 24 Iowa at Purdue**	ESPN2 / ESPN3
Mon, Feb 18	7 p.m.	*Big Monday Presented by Bud Light:* No. 5 Kentucky at No. 17 Texas A&M	ESPN2 / WatchESPN
	9 p.m.	*Big Monday Presented by Bud Light:* No. 1 Baylor at No. 2 Connecticut	ESPN2 / WatchESPN

** - Regionalized telecast; rankings based on an early preseason poll by ESPN.com columnist Charlie Creme

About the Kay Yow Cancer Fund
The Kay Yow Cancer Fund is a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization committed to being a part of finding an answer in the fight against women's cancers through raising money for scientific research, assisting the underserved, and unifying people for a common cause. For more information on the Kay Yow Cancer Fund or to make a donation, please visit www.KayYow.com .

About The V Foundation for Cancer Research
The V Foundation for Cancer Research was founded in 1993 by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano, legendary North Carolina State basketball coach and ESPN commentator. Since 1993, The Foundation has raised more than $120 million to fund cancer research grants nationwide. It awards 100 percent of all direct cash donations and net proceeds of events directly to cancer research and related programs. Administrative and fundraising expenses are paid by the Foundation's endowment. The Foundation awards grants through a competitive awards process strictly supervised by a Scientific Advisory Board. For more information on The V Foundation or to make a donation, please visit www.jimmyv.org .

The WBCA
Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association promotes women's basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game as a sport for women and girls. For more information on the WBCA, please visit www.wbca.org .

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