Registration for Mastros VIP Event on Nov. 29th at 5pm

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My Dear Friends – attached please find a letter from our President and CEO of the Arizona Veterans Foundation, David Lucier.  David is a soldier from our Special Operations Command, a War Hero, Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame, and a great and loyal friend.  David and my very dear friends from the SOA, Special Operations Association, a special branch of our US Military whose members all fought behind enemy lines, have come to the rescue to help us educate and care for our homeless children.  Thus the title “Heroes Past and Heroes Future” for this Inaugural CFA/SOA Gala.

I am hoping that you can join us on November 20 at Turf Paradise Race Track to help raise awareness and money to help educate, feed, and provide healthcare for the future leaders and citizens of our country.  This is our opportunity to teach and help our disadvantaged children how to fish and show them the right way to becoming productive citizens of our country though the CFA, Children First Academy, an AZ State Chartered School in Tempe and Phoenix.  The other half of the proceeds will be used to help benefit several Special Operations Association charities.

This will also be a special day as we pay special Tribute to our Special Operations Association, our War Heroes, and our Veterans.  Each of the 9 races will be named after a Military Branch like the Air Force, US Marines, Army, Navy, West Point Academy, Special Operations Association, etc.  The highlight of the races features two very special branches during WWII:  The Tuskegee Airmen Race and the 442 Regiment Race.  These two very special branches represents our minorities who fought and died for our country to show their patriotism.  They are heavily decorated and an integral part of the Greatest Generation that created the best country in the world and precious freedom we are all enjoying today.  Our soldiers are buried all over the world giving up their lives to protect the freedom of other countries.

The festivities starts at 11:30 AM and continues until around 5 PM.  We will be having a variety of special celebrations highlighted by Polynesian Dancers, Military Band, Flyover, and Parachute jumps.  We will also be having Silent and Live Auctions along with selling Military Memorabilia.

There are many ways you can help:

1.     Every dollar of donation counts no matter the amount.  Make your check payable to: Arizona Veterans Foundation and the mailing address is: 1104 S. Ash Ave. Tempe AZ 85281.  Please call David Lucier at 480-703-4008 if you have any questions and wish to volunteer.

2.     We would love to have Silent and Live Auction Items of all kinds like: hotel stays, restaurant vouchers, golf games, lunch or dinner with a Celebrity; goods, merchandises, etc.

3.     We would love for you to be a volunteer and your primary tasks are to: help find donors; share this message with your friends, and or offer to help on race day.  The race track is located on 1501 W. Bell Road, Phoenix, AZ 85023.

4.     Please feel free to contact Dina Gerdon, Jerald Lewis, and Jarret Sharp if you all want to make donations directly to the Children First Academy.  We will take anything from used clothes, food items, furniture, soaps, towels, books, toys, shampoos, etc.  The first things we do when our children gets to school is provide them with food, clothing, and clean them up.  Yes, things a lot of us take for granted is a glorious experience for these special children.  We hope you can visit our school in Phoenix or Tempe and you will see how happy and determined they are to get an education.

Thank you very much for taking the time to read this letter.  God bless you and God bless America.

Sincerely and respectfully yours,

Eddie Tantoco

CFA/SOA Volunteer

Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc., Community Service Volunteer

HEROES Special Operations Association

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Pro Players Classic Seeks to Provide Scholarships to Veterans, Cure Autism and Stresses Community Involvement

Scottsdale, AZ. (October 14, 2010) – The tee off for the 13^th annual Pro Players Classic (PPC), one of Arizona’s most popular annual celebrity golf tournaments, starts Dec. 4^th, 2010, at the Terravita Golf and Country Club in Scottsdale. The PPC offers the opportunity to meet and golf with legendary professional athletes and celebrities from Hollywood, NFL, NHL, professional golf and major league baseball. More than 130 golfers and 30+ former professional athletes and celebrities will participate in the charitable fund-raising event benefiting Phoenix-based Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC), Thunderbird Global School of International Management, Boys and Girls Club of Greater Scottsdale – Lehi Branch Pima Maricopa Reservation, the new Desert Foothills YMCA, Athletes International Ministries, Shape UP US and many others.

Former professional athletes confirmed for the tournament include Hall of Famer Ted Hendricks, Five Time Super Bowl Winner Marv Flemming, All Pro’s Art Still and Christian Okoye and several local celebrities such as Dan Manucci and Mark Walczak.

The PPC golf tournament was originally developed to raise educational scholarship funds for underprivileged Indigenous and Native American youth. Over the years, it has grown to encompass many charitable organizations, including the Desert Foothills YMCA and the Firefighter’s Association of Greater Phoenix, as well as many Native American organizations, including the Boys & Girls Club’s Lehi Branch in Scottsdale, Arizona, The Kayenta Boys Basketball program on the Navajo Reservation and the United Nations of Indian Tribal Youth (“UNITY”). Dave Smoot, a former professional basketball player, and Lynn Larson, member of the Super Bowl V Champion Baltimore Colts, are co-founders of the tournament.

The PPC is proud to announce Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC) as a second year beneficiary. “After visiting the organization and seeing the great work the SARRC team is doing to provide quality services and support to children and families affected by autism, searching for answers to solve the mysteries surrounding the disorder, I felt adding SARRC as a beneficiary was important,” said Dave Smoot.

In addition to its yearly charitable donations, the PPC annually presents the Ira Hayes
“Honorable Warrior” Award to individuals and organizations that deserve special recognition for extraordinary service to their community and country. The award is named for Ira Hayes, a Pima Native American and a native of Sacaton, Arizona, who fought as a U.S. marine in World War II and helped raise the American flag during the battle for Iwo Jima. Although Hayes never sought personal publicity or recognition, he and four other marines were immortalized in photographer Joe Rosenthal’s Pulitzer Prize-winning iconic photograph, Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima.

This year’s winner is currently under consideration.

The event is open to the public and begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday night December 3^rd at Harold’s Corral in Cave Creek. The evening will include live and silent auctions, great food including prime rib dinner, and dancing into the early morning to Mogollon.

The tournament will be held on the prestigious 18-hole golf course at the beautiful Terravita Golf and Country Club, ranked as Arizona’s top private country club by a leading Arizona Golf Magazine for over seven (7) straight years. Terravita will be open to the public on Saturday, December 4^th at 7:30 a. m. for registration, with a shotgun start at 9:30 a. m. The tournament will be held in a scramble format that will give all teams a chance to win.

The golf outing will be followed by a delicious steak dinner and awards presentation at the site of the Tournament and furnished by OUTBACK, who is also furnishing hot chicken sandwiches during the tournament. “We thank in advance all the generous sponsors and participating teams who make this cause possible,” said Smoot.

For more information about registration, participating as a sponsor, donations for the auction or any other general questions, please contact Melissa Patafio, mpatafio@natawa.com, or by visiting the Pro Players Classic Web site at www.proplayersclassic.com.

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What does 5 Time Super Bowl Winner Marvin Fleming, HOF Ted Hendricks, All-Pro’s; Christian Okoye, Art Still and All Stars; Tom Chambers have in common?

They All Play in the Pro Players Classic; Greater Phoenix’s Number 1 Tournament with Golfers!  - Register Today-

This year’s celebrities are confirmed and can be found on the website!!! SEE WHO IS PLAYING

December 3^rd and 4^th is fast approaching. It’s time again, even in these bad times, to think of the children that the PPC supports: Thunderbird Global School of International Management benefitting our U. S. Veterans, SARRC, (Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center-www.autismcenter.org) is our featured charity this year. Of course we still honor our annual commitment to the new Desert Foothills YMCA in North Scottsdale, Athletes International Ministries and other great local Charities all benefit this year from the 13^th Annual Pro Players Classic.

Consider this; two days with the Celebrities; at least two parties and three great meals including prime rib and fried chicken at Harold’s Corral in Cave Creek, AZ on Friday night; Outback grilled chicken sandwiches at the Tournament and Outback Steaks directly following the Tournament as well as the Awards Ceremony; a round of golf on a beautiful golf course at private Terravita Golf and Country Club in North Scottsdale, AZ, the leading private country club in Arizona 7 years in a row; a couple of hundred dollars retail worth of tournament related gifts from companies like Antigua and NIKE; many opportunities to “hang and schmooze” with the Celebrities; and the after tournament party at Harold’s; all for $500.00 per player.  For the out-of-towners, the incredible resort; the Carefree Resort and Villas in Carefree, AZ, is giving special discounts that almost pays for the trip into town.

So, please consider participating. The worst that can happen is you’ll have the time of your life playing golf with great Celebrities and eat great food, while meeting wonderful people from all over the country, who come to play in the event.  We have kept the price the same as last year, recognizing the economic condition of the country.

Already this year, many of the foursomes we have been sold.  There are about 10 left as of October 14, 2010.  We are, however; in need of sponsors for the golf shirts and hats, as well as “Hole Sponsors”.

Please check out the website at www.proplayersclassic.com.  If you’re a company that wants to find a way to help the kids in the Greater Phoenix Area, go to the website or join us on FACEBOOK and become a fan.

Call Melissa Patafio or Dave Smoot; 480-595-5506.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MULLIGANS AND MARTINIS AT BLUE MARTINI AUG. 25th (5-8PM)

Proceeds to benefit Thunderbird scholarship opportunities for U.S. veterans

(Scottsdale, AZ.) August 18, 2010 – The 13^th Annual Pro Players Classic (PPC), one of Arizona’s most popular celebrity golf events, will hold a kick-off party on August 25th at Blue Martini Lounge at City North in Phoenix. This year’s party, Mulligan’s and Martinis, will assist in helping Thunderbird School of Global Management establish scholarship opportunities for veterans of the U.S. Military.

Mulligan’s and Martinis offers the opportunity for the public to show their support for some of our Heroes who are currently serving in the Armed Forces as well as our veterans; and to meet legendary professional athletes from the NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL.  Former professional athletes confirmed for the party include Jay Taylor and Mark Walczak, of the AZ Cardinals, Troy Rusk of the Philadelphia Phillies, Tim Unroe of the Milwaukee Braves, Sean Gauthier of the San Jose Sharks, Dan Mannucci of the Buffalo Bills and KFAN Radio and “Howler”; along with many of this year’s Phoenix Coyotes.

This year’s golf tournament is sponsored by Thunderbird, and will be held December 3 and 4 at the beautiful Terravita Golf and Country Club in Scottsdale.  More than 130 golfers and 30 plus former professional athletes and celebrities will participate in the charitable fundraising event.

For more information about playing in the tournament, participating as a sponsor or donations to the PPC 501(c)(3) or any other questions, please visit the Pro Players Classic Web site at: www.proplayersclassic.com or contact Tournament Directors,

Sheryl Black & Trish Friberg with Dynamic Desert Partners, LLC.  Contact Info: 480-422-3680 or DynamicDesertPartners(at)yahoo.com or Melissa Patafio at 480-595-5506 or mpatafio(at)natawa.com.

About the PPC

The Pro Players Classic was created in 1999 to be a conduit for educational scholarship assistance for underprivileged Indigenous Youth. The success of the program to date is the result of two  dedicated Co-Founders; Dave Smoot and Lynn Larson, a score of committed volunteers, the support of very loyal sponsors and the immeasurable assistance of the greater Phoenix community.

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The attendees for the Pro Player’s Classic VIP Event makes this a must attend! Wednesday is also ladies night. $10 at the door gets you a drink coupon and entry to our raffle…all proceeds help support the Pro Player’s Classic Charities and will go towards helping one of our US Armed Forces finest get an MBA from Thunderbird! Here is a glimpse of the VIP list for the August 25th event from 5pm to 8pm at Blue Martini in City North:

Tony Vicich – Comedian and MC for the night!

The Phoenix Coyotes – Past and Present Players

Men and Women from our US Military (in uniform)

Mark Walczak-Arizona Cardinals

Bob Kohrs-Pittsburg Steelers

Kwamie Lassiter-AZ Cardinals

Jim Baker-Buffalo Bill

Tim Unroe-Brewers

Troy Rusk-Phillies

Jay Taylor-AZ Cardinals

Syd Justin-L.A. Rams

Sean Gauthier-San Jose Sharks

Dan Mannucci-Buffalo Bills

Steve Holden-Cleveland Browns

Lynn Larson-Baltimore Colts

Thunderbird Alumni (successful business people from around the world)

We look forward to seeing you there!

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.) – Pro Players Classic Golf Tournament (PPC), one of Arizona’s most popular annual celebrity golf events announces the formation of their Board of Directors.

This year’s golf tournament will be held Dec. 3-4 at the beautiful Terravita Golf and Country Club, Scottsdale. Proceeds will be used to support Thunderbird in establishing scholarship opportunities for veterans of the U.S. Military, SARRC, Children’s Angel Foundation, an affiliate of Hacienda HealthCare and The Valley of the Sun YMCA at Desert Foothills.

The PPC Board of Directors is currently in formation.  In addition to the co-founders, Dave Smoot, and Lynn Larson, the Board of Directors is comprised of:

• Emily Casarona, President, Tri-Side Consulting
• Kelle Steinecke, Marketing Manager, Walton International Group
• Dave Hatheway, Chief Operating Officer, American Indian Technologies International, LLC
• Melissa Patafio, Office Administrator, American Indian Technologies International, LLC
• Reed Hancock, Retired
• Matt O’Brien, Social Media Marketing Aficionado at Mint Social
• Ed Sandidge, CLU
• Bob Sanches, Landmark Development/Magni Funds
• Aram Chavez , Director of Strategic Initiatives at Thunderbird
• Vishal Biajal, Executive Change Leader for Strategic Programs Ex3

Participants in the celebrity golf tournament will have an opportunity to meet and golf with celebrities and legendary professional athletes from the NFL, NHL, PGA, NBA and MLB. More than 130 golfers and 30-plus former professional athletes and celebrities will participate in this charitable fundraising event.

For more information about participating as a sponsor or donations to the PPC 501(c)(3) or any other questions, please visit the Pro Players Classic Web site at: www.proplayersclassic.com or contact Tournament Director, Kelle Rene` Steinecke: kellerene13@yahoo.com or Melissa Patafio at 480-595-5506 or mpatafio@natawa.com.

About the Pro Players Classic

The Pro Players Classic was created in 1999 to be a conduit for educational scholarship assistance for underprivileged Indigenous Youth. The success of the program to date is the result of dedicated Co-Founders; Dave Smoot and Lynn Larson, a score of committed volunteers, the support of very loyal sponsors and the immeasurable assistance of the greater Phoenix community.

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PPC Blue Martini VIP Party Aug. 25th

This is is great cause and is a must attend (do not miss) event with:

Tony Vicich – Comedian and MC for the night!
Mark Walczak-Arizona Cardinals

…and many more to be announced!

SEE YOU THERE…Aug. 25th from 5pm to 8pm (tickets at the door).

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This is a must attend Pro Players Classic event benefiting our military veterans on August 25, 2010 from 5-8pm at The Blue Martini 5455 E. High Street, Suite 101, Phoenix, AZ 85054. There will be celebrities, veterans and hopefully you in attendance. Only $10 cover (includes one drink) and raffle prizes.

August 25, 2010 PPC Event at Blue Martini

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