CAL RIPKEN JR. TO HEADLINE
2009 DAY OF CHAMPIONS DINNER

Baseball's all-time "Iron Man," Cal Ripken Jr., will headline the Rochester Press-Radio Club's 60th Day of Champions Children's Charity Dinner on Monday, May 18, 2009 at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center.

A member of the Rochester Red Wings in 1981, Ripken became one of baseball's most beloved figures during his 21-year playing career with the Baltimore Orioles. He is one of only seven players in history to accumulate more than 400 home runs and 3,000 hits, and is best known for breaking Lou Gehrig's coveted baseball endurance record by playing in 2,632 consecutive games. Ripken was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in the summer of 2006 in front of a record crowd of more than 70,000 in Cooperstown.

"I'm thrilled that we were able to land Ripken for our 60th anniversary dinner," said Press-Radio Club President Scott Pitoniak. "He continues the club's tradition of providing iconic sports headliners, and his high character and give-back spirit fits in perfectly with our mission of helping kids."

Ripken will receive the Coca-Cola Sports Personality of the Year Award, and will be joined at the head table by other sports figures and local award winners to be announced in the coming weeks.

Tickets for the dinner are $125, with a table of 10 available at a discounted price of $1,200. A limited number of "Meet-and-Greet Cal Ripken" packages are available for $800. The package includes two dinner tickets, an 8x10 photograph with the headliner and a bat signed by Ripken. A limited number of VIP reception tickets (includes a Ripken autographed photo and a dinner ticket) are being offered at $225 per person. Advertising and sponsorship opportunities also exist.

To reserve tickets or packages, call 585-340-1460.  Credit cards (Visa, Master Card, or American Express) or money orders are accepted as payment. Seating is limited.

Since the Press-Radio Club's inception in 1949, it has donated more than $2 million to Rochester charities.

Rochester Press-Radio Club gratefully acknowledges its corporate sponsors:  Rochester Coca-Cola Bottling Company, the Democrat and Chronicle, ESL Federal Credit Union, Paychex Corporation, the Rochester RazorSharks, and the Rochester Red Wings.