Game Day. Give Back.™ Encourages Football Fans To Help Tackle Childhood Cancer On Feb. 6

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St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Jan 06, 2011, 01:27 ET

Fans can support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital® while enjoying the big game

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Jan. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As excitement mounts for Super Bowl® XLV on Feb. 6, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is calling on football fans across the country to help tackle childhood cancer by participating in Game Day. Give Back.™, a program that encourages fans to celebrate the culmination of the football season by combining their passion for the sport with a good cause.

St. Jude, the nation's top ranked children's cancer hospital, believes you do not have to be a football star to make a game-winning play. The hospital is drafting everyone to help fight childhood cancer by hosting a Game Day. Give Back. party. Fans can participate by inviting friends and family members over for the big game to cheer on their favorite team while helping the kids of St. Jude. There are a variety of fun and easy ways to get involved including hosting a Game Day. Give Back. party, visiting a participating location or 'giving' to a virtual party.

"Game Day. Give Back. provides football fans the dual opportunity to enjoy the game with family and friends while raising funds to help support the lifesaving work being done at St. Jude," said Richard C. Shadyac Jr., CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising organization of St. Jude. "Celebrate football's biggest game of the year and help St. Jude celebrate even more victories in the fight to find cures and save children who are battling cancer and other deadly diseases."

The program is an extension of the organization's season-long efforts to raise awareness and funds through a partnership with FOX Sports. This NFL season, FOX Sports teamed with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital through its FOX Sports Supports charitable initiative to help kids who are sidelined by cancer and other deadly diseases. Throughout the season, FOX Sports aired public service announcements (PSA) filmed by the entire NFL on FOX on-air crew and St. Jude patients, leant numerous on-air mentions to St. Jude and participated in several additional events and activities.

NFL on FOX on-air analyst Troy Aikman, who appears alongside his fellow NFL on FOX personalities in the St. Jude PSA airing in advertising space donated by FOX Sports during Super Bowl XLV, is looking forward to spending the big day back in Dallas and has fond memories of his own game day parties.

"It's been exciting for me to be on the other side and broadcast a couple of Super Bowls now, and to be part of the first one ever in Dallas is pretty exciting," said NFL on FOX analyst Troy Aikman. "It was amazing to visit the hospital and see how tough these kids are and I hope football fans will rally and turn their parties into an opportunity to support a great cause. I always have parties with friends and former teammates and just enjoy the weekend."

Those not planning to host parties on Feb. 6 can visit one of several participating restaurant partners running Game Day. Give Back. specials to benefit St. Jude. National partners include Fox & Hound, Bailey's Sports Grille and Champps Americana. For a complete list of all participating locations and to find a location near you visit www.stjude.org/giveback.

Visit the website to sign up today and gain access to party materials, entertaining tips and recipes to help make your game day party a success. You will also be able to view behind the scenes footage from the FOX Sports on-air team's visit to St. Jude, patient stories, photos and ways for the public to support the hospital's mission. Please visit www.stjude.org/giveback.

About St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. St. Jude is the first and only pediatric cancer center to be designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute. Founded by late entertainer Danny Thomas and based in Memphis, Tenn., St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world. St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance. No child is ever denied treatment because of the family's inability to pay. St. Jude is financially supported by ALSAC, its fundraising organization. In 2010, St. Jude was ranked the most trusted charity in the nation in a public survey conducted by Harris Interactive, a highly respected international polling and research firm. St. Jude was also named the nation's top children's cancer hospital in the 2010-11 Best Children's Hospitals rankings published by U.S. News & World Report. For more information, go to www.stjude.org and follow St. Jude on www.facebook.com/stjude and www.twitter.com/stjude.

SOURCE St. Jude Children's Research Hospital