Rawlings Launches National Play Catch with Your Kids Month

ST. LOUIS, March 30, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc., today announced the creation of "National Play Catch with Your Kids Month presented by Rawlings," a new platform to promote kids' physical activity during the summer months while bringing families closer together through the simple game of playing catch.

The month-long celebration beginning this June connects Rawlings national cause marketing efforts, including the announcement last month of its Rawlings Replay gently-used equipment trade-in program, and its continued activation efforts within communities across the U.S.

"As the exclusive supplier of baseballs to Major League Baseball® and the glove of choice for more pros than any other brand, Rawlings has truly owned this activity that evokes childhood memories for both fathers and sons, and has for years," said Kurt Hunzeker, senior director of brand marketing for Rawlings. "Our mission is to enable participation in the game, even in its simplest form of playing catch, but the bigger goal is to provide a new avenue to promote daily physical activity."

St. Louis-based Rawlings, a subsidiary of Jarden Corporation, is an official partner of many youth baseball organizations, including Perfect Game USA, Base Ruth Baseball, Cal Ripken Baseball, Pony League, Dixie Youth Baseball and the official baseball of the United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA), Baseball Canada and the exclusive baseball supplier of the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU).

Rawlings and its network of national and local retailers, youth sports organizations and corporate partners are finalizing specific programming and events throughout the month of June. In addition, various product discounts will be available for families that pledge to participate in the platform.

For more information on National Play Catch with Your Kids Month, please visit Rawlings' Facebook page (www.facebook.com/rawlings).

About Rawlings

Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. is a leading manufacturer and marketer of sporting goods in the United States. Since the company's inception in 1887, Rawlings' mission has always centered on developing and producing innovative, high-performance equipment and protective apparel for the professional player. With an assortment of baseball, basketball, football and softball game-related product lines, Rawlings is present everywhere team sports are played. Leagues and conferences of all skill levels integrate Rawlings' unparalleled product portfolio into their sports: as the Official Baseball and Official Helmet to Major League Baseball®, the official baseball for the NCAA®, the official football for the NAIA®, the official basketball for the NAIA, NJCAA® and AAU®, the approved baseball, basketball, football and softball of the National High School Federation®. For more information, please visit rawlings.com, Rawlings' Facebook page or by phone at (314) 819-2800.

About Jarden Corporation

Jarden Corporation is a leading provider of niche consumer products. Jarden operates in three primary business segments through a number of well recognized brands, including: Outdoor Solutions: Abu Garcia®, Aero®, Berkley®, Campingaz®, Coleman®, Ex-Officio®, Fenwick®, Gulp!®, K2®, Marker®, Marmot®, Mitchell®, Penn®, Rawlings®, Shakespeare®, Stearns®, Stren®, Trilene®, Volkl® and Zoot®; Consumer Solutions: Bionaire®, Crock-Pot®, FoodSaver®, Health o meter®, Holmes®, Mr. Coffee®, Oster®, Patton®, Rival®, Seal-a-Meal®, Sunbeam®, VillaWare® and White Mountain®; and Branded Consumables: Ball®, Bee®, Bicycle®, Billy Boy®, Crawford®, Diamond®, Dicon®, Fiona®, First Alert®, First Essentials®, Forster®, Hoyle®, Kerr®, Lehigh®, Leslie-Locke®, Lillo®, Loew Cornell®, Mapa®, NUK®, Pine Mountain®, Quickie®, Spontex® and Tigex®. Headquartered in Rye, N.Y., Jarden has more than 24,000 employees worldwide. For more information, please visit www.jarden.com.

SOURCE Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc.