Tom Brady Touchdown Challenge Benefiting Best Buddies International Extended into Postseason

FOXBORO, Mass., Jan. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Best Buddies International, a groundbreaking nonprofit founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, is pleased to announce that the Hanson family has graciously agreed to extend the Tom Brady Touchdown Challenge. The Hansons will donate $1,000 to the organization for every touchdown pass New England Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady throws during the 2011 postseason, just like they did during the 2010-11 regular season – helping Best Buddies International raise close to $40,000. They would also like to encourage others to do the same, by visiting www.bestbuddies.org/tombradytouchdownchallenge and pledging a donation amount of their choice for the postseason.

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The Hansons, long-time Patriots fans, first met Brady at the Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port, presented by Country Kitchen last June, where one of them played alongside him in the touch football game that kicked-off the weekend-long fundraiser.

"We came away inspired by Tom and his commitment to the cause," said the Hansons. "We were so impressed with how he gave himself completely to the event and how he handled himself on and off the field. It could have been so easy for Tom to make a brief appearance at the event and make it all about him, but instead, he made it all about the people surrounding him - especially the Best Buddies participants - by making everyone feel included, which is such a key component of the Best Buddies mission. We look forward to presenting Best Buddies with a very large check at the end of the season, and hope that other individuals and corporations will be inspired to make a contribution to Best Buddies for every touchdown pass Tom throws, too!"

Brady has participated in Best Buddies since 2002, and has served as the Honorary Chairman of the Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port - a run, walk, cycle fundraiser – four times, and will do so again on June 4, 2011. He will also host the Tom Brady Football Classic on June 3, which will once again kick-off the Challenge.

"Best Buddies is an amazing organization that - through the simple act of friendship - is helping to reshape the way people see their peers with intellectual and developmental disabilities," said Tom Brady. "It is an honor to be able to help the Hansons raise awareness and funds to support this cause, and I hope that their incredible generosity will motivate other fans to join us in the Touchdown Challenge."

Each Tom Brady Touchdown Challenge participant that pledges $250 or more per postseason touchdown will be eligible to get his or her photo taken with Brady during the Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port.

Brady finished the 2010-11 regular season with a league-leading 36 touchdown passes, with just four interceptions. The Patriots also led the league in wins, finishing the regular season with a 14-2 record.

Several of Brady's teammates, including Tully Banta-Cain, Julian Edelman, Dan Koppen, Stephen Neal and Pierre Woods, and Coach Bill Belichick, also supported Best Buddies in 2010.

For information on how to join the Tom Brady Touchdown Challenge for the postseason, visit www.bestbuddies.org/tombradytouchdownchallenge.

For information on the Tom Brady Football Classic or the Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port, visit http://www.hpchallenge2011.org.

About Best Buddies International:

Best Buddies® is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant organization that has grown from one original chapter to close to 1,500 middle school, high school, and college chapters worldwide. Today, Best Buddies' seven formal programs – Colleges, High Schools, Middle Schools, Citizens, e-Buddies® , Jobs and Ambassadors - engage participants in 50 countries, positively impacting the lives of nearly 700,000 people with and without disabilities and their respective network of family, friends, and employers. As a result of their involvement with Best Buddies, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities secure rewarding jobs, live on their own, become inspirational leaders, and make lifelong friendships. For more information, please visit www.bestbuddies.org

SOURCE Best Buddies International