FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

SUPER BOWL MVP KURT WARNER
 TO RECEIVE “CALL TO COURAGE” AWARD
IN BUFFALO ON APRIL 19

Buffalo, NY, January 30, 2008… Veteran NFL quarterback Kurt Warner of the Arizona Cardinals will receive the 2008 Athletes In Action Call to Courage Award on Saturday, April 19, 2008, at the 7th Annual Call To Courage Awards Breakfast at 9 am in the Grand Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Buffalo, NY.

Former Buffalo Bills quarterback, Frank Reich, will present the award to Warner at the event.  The Frank Reich Call To Courage Award is given annually to the NFL player who has exemplified outstanding character, commitment and leadership on and off the field and in the community.

Warner’s story is one of the most inspirational in American sports.  After his collegiate playing days at the University of Northern Iowa, he attended the Green Bay Packers Training Camp in 1994, but was released from the team.  Later he worked at the Cedar Falls, Iowa, Hy-Vee Food Store stocking shelves for $5.50 an hour before being signed by the Iowa Barnstormers of the Arena Football League in 1995.  Warner was named to the AFL’s All-Arena First Team in 1996 and 1997 as he led the Barnstormers to Arena Bowl appearances in both seasons.  He then left the Barnstormers to sign with the NFL’s St. Louis Rams and was allocated to the Amsterdam Admirals of the NFL Europe.

Warner was the backup quarterback for the Rams during the preseason of the 1999-2000 season, and when starting quarterback, Trent Green, was injured in the preseason, Warner took over as the starter.  The accurate-throwing Warner, along with running back Marshall Faulk and wide receivers Isaac Brace and Torry Holt were all part of the high-scoring offense who were nicknamed “The Greatest Show on Turf”.  Warner’s 41 touchdown passes is regarded as on of the top seasons by a quarterback in NFL history.  Warner became the symbol of the Rams giant turn-around in 1999.  In the NFL Playoffs, Warner led the St. Louis Rams to a Super Bowl XXXIV victory against the Tennessee Titans.  He threw for a record 414 passing yards that game, including a 73- yard touchdown strike to Bruce when the game was tied with just over two minutes to play.  He was Super Bowl MVP in 1999, becoming one of the select few to win both the league MVP and the Super Bowl MVP in the same year.  Warner again led his Rams to the Super Bowl in 2001, but lost to the New England Patriots on a last second Adam Vinatieri field goal.  For the second time, Warner was named the leagues Most Valuable Player.

Now entering his 9th NFL season, Warner is the field general for the Arizona Cardinals and mentor to Heismen Trophy Winner, Matt Leinart.  Warner had another outstanding season last year for the Cardinals.

Master of Ceremonies for the Call To Courage Breakfast will be former Buffalo Bills All Pro Steve Tasker, who is a color commentator for CBS coverage of the NFL.

This year, Frank Reich will also be presenting a collegiate version of the Call To Courage Award to a member of the University of Buffalo football team and a similar version to an outstanding member of a Western New York high school football team.

Tickets are $35 each and a table of ten is $350.  For more information call 716-559-1800 or visit our website at www.aiabuffalo.com.