NXTsports presents Fourth Annual Philly Charity Showdown at Citizens Bank Park

TopLaxRecruits.com, Posted 9/3/13
From Press Release

NXTsports is very proud to announce that the 2013 Philly Showcase weekend will begin with the Fourth Annual Philly Charity Showdown on Friday, November 15 at Citizens Bank Park.

The Philly Charity Showdown will mark the first time that lacrosse has ever been played at Citizens Bank Park, the home of the Philadelphia Phillies. This year the NXTsports Philly Charity Showdown is also proud to announce a new charitable partner, as the event will raise money to support the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s (CHOP) Minds Matter initiative, dedicated to Improving Pediatric Concussion Care.

This year’s Philly Charity Showdown will feature a tremendous lineup of club and high school lacrosse matchups, pitting some of Philadelphia’s finest high school and club programs against elite counterparts from across North America. The final list of teams participating in the Philly Charity Showdown is currently being finalized and will be released shortly.

Said Andy Hayes, President of NXTsports, “The Philly Charity Showdown has become one of the biggest events on the annual lacrosse calendar. We are very excited to hold the event at Citizens Bank Park, which will be a new and awesome venue for lacrosse, and will provide a memorable opportunity for all the participating athletes.

“Further, as an organization that dedicates itself to participant safety, we are proud to raise money to support CHOP’s Minds Matter: Improving Pediatric Concussion Care research initiative. Concussion care, treatment and awareness are issues at the forefront of safety in all youth sports. NXT can’t wait to put on a special night of lacrosse and raise money for an important cause.”

Added Joel Zuercher, COO of NXT, “Hosting a lacrosse event at Citizens Bank Park posed significant logistical challenges, it would have been very easy for the Phillies to simply say no. Instead Phillies Business Development Director Joe Giles and his team have worked extremely hard to make the event a reality. The Phillies’ willingness to host this event speaks volumes about the organization’s dedication to the Philadelphia community and their charitable spirit.”

Joe Giles, Philadelphia Phillies Director of Business Development, stated, “The Philadelphia Phillies and Citizens Bank Park are pleased to host our first-ever lacrosse event, the Philly Charity Showdown. Citizens Bank Park is a world-famous venue and will provide a great showcase for high school lacrosse players to demonstrate their skills. We look forward to hosting the Philly Charity Showdown at Citizens Bank Park and wish the best of luck to all of the athletes in action.”

Said Matt DiBattista, Assistant Director of Event Fundraising and Community Partnerships at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, “CHOP relies heavily on philanthropic support from the community to fund programs like Minds Matter. We are so grateful for all that NXTsports is doing for CHOP and look forward to a great night of lacrosse.”

The Philly Charity Showdown at Citizens Bank Park is the kickoff to Philly Showcase weekend, the biggest lacrosse recruiting weekend of the year. The full schedule for Philly Showcase weekend, as well as the final lineup of high school and club teams competing at Citizens Bank Park, will be released shortly.

Tickets for the Event (All Net Ticket Proceeds to Benefit CHOP)

The Philly Charity Showdown at Citizens Bank Park is open to the public. General admission tickets are $20 for adults, and $5 for kids age 12 and under. NXTsports will also host a special catered VIP reception in the Citizens Bank Park Group Suites, featuring food and drinks with all net proceeds going to CHOP’s Mind Matters initiative.

All guests at the VIP reception will have a full view of the action on the field from an outdoor deck and a heated indoor suite. There are 200 tickets available for the VIP Reception. Both general admission and VIP Reception tickets will be available beginning Thursday, September 12. Check ShowcaseLacrosse.com for ticketing details. To immediately put your name on the VIP Reception information list please email Kara Geiman (kara@iamnxt.com).

About The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Founded in 1855, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is the birthplace of pediatric medicine in America. Throughout its history, a passionate spirit of innovation has driven this renowned institution to pursue scientific discovery, establish the highest standards of patient care, train future leaders in pediatrics and advocate for children’s health. A haven of hope for children and families worldwide, CHOP is a nonprofit charitable organization that relies on the generous support of its donors to continue to set the global standard for pediatric care.

About Minds Matter: Improving Pediatric Concussion Care

Concussions receive substantial attention in national media, but these injuries affect more than just professional athletes. An estimated 650,000 concussions occur among children and adolescents each year in the U.S. Visits to The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for concussion have increased by 400 percent since 2009, and a medical record review showed that only half of those cases were sports related. Because the job of a child is school and not sport, focusing on “return to learn,” as well as return to play, is essential.

CHOP’s primary and specialty care network uniquely positions us to be a regional and national leader in concussion care. Our clinical program serves as the infrastructure for 1) a strong research program investigating the scientific foundation for concussion management and prevention and 2) an evidence-based outreach program that disseminates messages to key stakeholders in concussion management and prevention.

Can’t attend, but would like to support the cause?

To learn more about Minds Matter: Improving Pediatric Concussion Care and how you can support The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, please contact Matt DiBattista, Assistant Director, Event Fundraising and Community Partnerships at 267-426-6502.