Cox Helps Negro League Baseball Veterans Bring Their Heritage and Message to Central Florida

Cox Helps Negro League Baseball Veterans Bring Their Heritage and Message to Central Florida

Nine Former Players to Hand Down Their Legacy to a New Generation

GAINESVILLE, Fla., April 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Cox Communications Central Florida has announced a project to help reinvigorate interest in baseball among African American youth. "Bridging the Gap: The Soul of Baseball," taking place in Gainesville on May 7th and 8th, will offer a rare opportunity for youth to interact with a special group of athletes, the likes of whom will never be seen again. Two full days of events include a community luncheon honoring nine veteran players, a ceremony at the start of the University of Florida vs. Bethune Cookman baseball game, and visits with elementary and high school students as well as Boys and Girls Clubs children to help introduce them to the heritage of the great Negro Leagues.

The stars of the initiative are nine legendary former Negro League players who will share their personal experiences so as to rekindle interest in America's pastime among a new generation of African American youth. Cox Communications, which ranked this year as the sixth best company for diversity on the annual DiversityInc Top 50 Companies For Diversity(R) List and which DiversityInc also listed among the top ten workplace environments for African Americans, is organizing the event to give back in a unique way to the community it serves, while celebrating its commitment to diversity.

"These men have tremendous stories to share. They are living links to a bygone era that required all of their courage and determination to pursue their dream under most difficult circumstances," said Ken Sneed, Cox's vice president of Customer Care and chair of the Cox Central Florida Diversity & Inclusion Council. "We have an opportunity to shine a spotlight on these baseball legends for what they have accomplished and to help pass along that heritage to a younger generation that is increasingly leaving baseball behind."

   Members of the media are invited to attend the following events:    May 7, 2008    -- 10:30 am, Eastside High School (EHS) Auditorium, players meet and talk      with students   -- 12:00 pm, players meet with Cox's Central Florida employees   -- 2:30 pm, players meet and speak with children at Howard Bishop Middle      School   -- 6:00 pm: players introduction ceremony at McKethan Stadium before the      UF vs. BCC U game   -- 6:25 pm: Players throw out the first pitch.     May 8, 2008    -- 11:30 am, community luncheon (media are invited, invitation-only for      the public) featuring the reading of winning student-composed poem and      a player panel discussion and Q&A   -- 1:30 pm, press reception with the media to meet/interview the players.   -- 3:00 pm, players with children at SE Boys and Girls Club.    

The former Negro League Baseball players who are scheduled to be part of this project are Clifford "Quack" Brown (Philadelphia Stars); William "Billy" Felder (Newark Eagles, Indianapolis Clowns, Philadelphia Stars and minor leagues); Walter Lee "Dirk" Gibbons (Philadelphia Stars, New York Black Yankees, Indianapolis Clowns); Arthur "Jr." Hamilton (Indianapolis Clowns, Detroit Stars), A.J. Jackson (Kansas City Monarchs); Raydell "Bo" Maddix (Indianapolis Clowns); Harold "Buster" O. Hair (Birmingham Black Barons, Kansas City Monarchs); Reverend Ulysses Samuel Young (Shelton Tigers, New York Blazers, Indianapolis Clowns, New York Royals, Los Angeles Mets, and Los Angeles Tigers); and George Green (Indianapolis Clowns).

Cox leaders in Central Florida envision ongoing community support to sponsor youth league baseball focused on disadvantaged areas in its Central Florida system. "Cox Communications will help provide resources to support youth involvement in baseball -- sponsoring teams, providing equipment, helping to maintain fields or finding coaches -- all of these things are necessary if we expect to see ongoing results from this effort," said Mike Giampietro, vice president and general manager of Cox Central Florida.

About Cox Communications

Cox Communications is a multi-service broadband communications and entertainment company with more than 6.2 million total residential and commercial customers. The third-largest cable television company in the United States, Cox offers an array of advanced digital video, high-speed Internet and telephony services over its own nationwide IP network, as well as integrated wireless services. Cox Business is a full-service, facilities-based provider of communications solutions for commercial customers, providing high-speed Internet, voice and long distance services, as well as data and video transport services for small to large-sized businesses. Cox Media offers national and local cable advertising in traditional spot and new media formats, along with promotional opportunities and production services. Cox Communications wholly owns and operates the Travel Channel. More information about the services of Cox Communications, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, is available at www.cox.com , www.coxbusiness.com , and www.coxmedia.com .

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Source: Cox Communications

CONTACT: Rick Mulligan, VP Public Affairs, Cox Communications Central
Florida, +1-352-337-2046, cell: +1-352-538-7471, Richard.Mulligan@Cox.com; or
David Grabert, Director of Media Relations (Corporate), Cox Communications,
+1-404-269-7054, cell: +1-678-592-2258, David.Grabert@Cox.com

Web site: http://www.cox.com/
http://www.coxbusiness.com/
http://www.coxmedia.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment