SAN ANTONIO, March 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For ten years, the Reese’s brand has partnered with the NCAA® to create exciting March Madness events, including Reese’s Final Four Friday and Reese’s National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) College All-Star Game, offering college basketball fans unique and authentic experiences.
Reese’s and NCAA® fans wear their passion on their sleeves and share it unapologetically with the world – and that’s something worth celebrating! It’s that mutual, unwavering fandom that led to Reese’s partnership with the NCAA® to fulfill fans’ desire for the exhilarating, emotional and triumphant experience that March Madness provides. Since 2008, the brand has celebrated this passion during Final Four weekend by hosting interactive and fun events that give fans the chance to experience this magical time of year.
This year, Reese’s will add a new layer to Final Four weekend by continuing its support of the U.S. military through a community event in partnership with Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP). Alongside San Antonio legend, United States Naval Academy graduate and pro basketball Hall of Famer David “The Admiral” Robinson, Reese’s NABC College All-Star Game players will distribute 200 Easter baskets to veterans and their families at the Warrior Family Support Center (WFSC) in San Antonio on behalf of Reese’s and The Hershey Company.
“From the on-court celebrations to the buzzer-beating thrilling upsets, March Madness is one of the most exciting times of year for fans, and Reese’s is there for it all,” said Eric Bowers, Reese’s Brand Manager. “This year, we are honored to continue our support of the U.S. military through a special community event with families at the Warrior Family Support Center. With the support of the military and basketball legend David Robinson, we hope to inspire fans to give back, and what better time than March Madness, the most emotional and invigorating tournament in college sports.”
Following the community event, Reese’s will host Reese’s Final Four Friday, a free, family-friendly fan event on Friday, March 30 at the Alamodome in San Antonio. Local favorite, former San Antonio and college basketball legend Sean Elliott, will sign autographs outside of section 101 from 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. CT. Fans are welcome to experience entertainment throughout the day, including during the Final Four team practices, the Reese’s NABC College All-Star game and other Reese’s experiences.
The culmination of activities on Reese’s Final Four Friday is the Reese’s NABC College All-Star Game. At halftime, David Robinson and Sean Elliott will host the Reese’s Halftime Challenge where eight contestants will compete in a game of musical chairs. The winner of musical chairs will advance to the final competition where they’ll have the opportunity to win* a pair of tickets for both Final Four Games and the National Championship Game. Tip-off is at 3:30 p.m. CT.
For more information, visit https://www.ncaa.com/final-four/final-four-friday/overview
* NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to legal residents of the 50 US/DC, 18 or older. Void where prohibited. Participation in Game by invitation only from all those in attendance at the REESE’S All-Star Game on March 30, 2018. See rules available onsite for prizes and other details. Sponsor: The Hershey Company.
Media Contacts:
Anna Lingeris
The Hershey Company
alingeris@hersheys.com
717-649-7214
Gail Dent
NCAA®
gdent@ncaa.com
317-917-6119
Sade Ayodele
Ketchum
sade.ayodele@ketchum.com
212-796-9831
Mattison Brooks
Wounded Warrior Project
mbrooks@woundedwarriorproject.org
904-451-5590
About the Hershey Company
The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY), headquartered in Hershey, Pa., is a global confectionery leader known for bringing goodness to the world through its chocolate, sweets, mints and other great-tasting snacks. Hershey has approximately 18,000 employees around the world who work every day to deliver delicious, quality products. The company has more than 80 brands around the world that drive more than $7.4 billion in annual revenues, including such iconic brand names as Hershey's, Reese's, Hershey's Kisses, Jolly Rancher, Ice Breakers and Brookside. Building on its core business, Hershey is expanding its portfolio to include a broader range of delicious snacks. The company remains focused on growing its presence in key international markets while continuing to extend its competitive advantage in North America.
At Hershey, goodness has always been about more than delicious products. For more than 120 years, Hershey has been committed to operating fairly, ethically and sustainably. Hershey founder, Milton Hershey, created the Milton Hershey School in 1909 and since then the company has focused on giving underserved children the skills and support they need to be successful. Today, the company continues this social purpose through 'Nourishing Minds,' a global initiative that provides basic nutrition to help children learn and grow. From neighborhoods across the United States to the streets of Shanghai and Mumbai and villages of West Africa, our goal is to nourish one million minds by 2020.
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About the NCAA®
The NCAA is a diverse association of more than 1,100 member colleges and universities that prioritize academics, well-being and fairness to create greater opportunities for nearly half a million student-athletes each year. The NCAA provides a pathway to higher education and beyond for student-athletes pursuing academic goals and competing in NCAA sports. More than 54,000 student-athletes experience the pinnacle of intercollegiate athletics by competing in NCAA championships each year. Visit ncaa.org and ncaa.com for more details about the Association and the corporate partnerships that support the NCAA and its student-athletes. The NCAA is proud to have AT&T, Capital One and Coca-Cola as official corporate champions and the following elite companies as official corporate partners: Buffalo Wild Wings, Buick, Enterprise, Google Cloud, Infiniti, Intel, Lowe’s, Marriott International, Nabisco, Northwestern Mutual, Pizza Hut, Reese’s, Unilever and Wendy’s.
About the National Association of Basketball Coaches
Located in Kansas City, Missouri, the NABC was founded in 1927 by Forrest “Phog” Allen, the legendary basketball coach at the University of Kansas. Allen, a student of James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, organized coaches into this collective group to serve as Guardians of the Game. The NABC currently has nearly 5,000 members consisting primarily of university and college men’s basketball coaches. All members of the NABC are expected to uphold the core values of being a Guardian of the Game by bringing attention to the positive aspects of the sport of basketball and the role coaches play in the academic and athletic lives of today’s student-athletes. The four core values of being a Guardian of the Game are advocacy, leadership, service and education. Additional information about the NABC, its programs and membership, can be found at www.nabc.org.
About Wounded Warrior Project
Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) connects, serves, and empowers wounded warriors. Read more at http://newsroom.woundedwarriorproject.org/about-us.
About the Warrior Family Support Center
The Warrior and Family Support Center provides coordinated services to patients, next-of-kin and extended Family members with a primary focus on Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom Wounded Warriors. Services include information and referral to military and civilian organizations, educational classes, state-of-the-art computer labs, an entertaining room and more. For more information, visit https://www.bamc.amedd.army.mil/military/wfsc/.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0b201a14-1be0-4a27-b911-b95df892e60e