JACKSONVILLE, FL (November 12, 2009) – The United Football League, in partnership with Northland AEG, presented a $25,000 check to Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today to kick-off “Operation Home for the Holidays.” UFL Commissioner Michael Huyghue and Senior Vice President/General Manager of the XL Center & Rentschler Field Chuck Steedman were in the Governor’s office this morning to deliver the check to Governor Rell.
Governor Rell kicked off Annual Operation ELF on October 5, 2009. This fundraising initiative, called “Operation Home for the Holidays,” is part of Operation ELF and is intended to raise $200,000 to hire a fleet of buses to bring Connecticut National Guard troops back to the state during a 10 day break in their training around the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. Some of the money raised will also provide entertainment options for those troops who cannot make the trip home or have no family in Connecticut.
Among those troops will be about 700 members of two units – the 1st Battalion of the 102nd Infantry Regiment and the 250th Engineering Company who will be completing preparations at “mobilization stations” in Indiana and Wisconsin before deploying to Afghanistan after the New Year.
The UFL was the first organization to pledge a $25,000 donation.
“The UFL is a League of opportunity and we are happy to be in a position to provide opportunities for families to be reunited during the holidays,” said Commissioner Huyghue. “Throughout our ‘Premiere’ season, we have donated funds and tickets to various branches of the armed services to show our overall appreciation for their hard work.”
“The UFL has Connecticut’s deepest thanks for their generous contribution and helping to kick-off a fundraising effort that will make this year’s Holiday Season a very special and memorable one for hundreds of military families in our state,” said Governor Rell. “Times are tight. However, the people and businesses are responding by opening their hearts to support Operation Home for the Holidays. We still have a ways to go.”
Donations for “Operation Home for the Holidays” should be sent to the Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Inc., 360 Broad Street, Hartford, Connecticut 06105. Checks should be made payable to “CTNGFI.”
Commissioner Huyghue, a Windsor native, is in Connecticut for tonight’s UFL game at Rentschler Field where the New York Sentinels will host the Florida Tuskers. Kick-off is at 7 PM.
About The UFL
The UFL was developed to fulfill the unmet needs of football fans in major markets currently underserved by professional football by providing a high quality traditional football league comprised of world class professional football players. The UFL will serve the communities with pride, dedication and passion, and uphold a leadership role in the development of football worldwide. The UFL will provide every fan with an affordable, accessible, exciting and entertaining game experience. Scheduled to debut in October 2009, the UFL’s headquarters is in New York, N.Y. and has satellite offices in Jacksonville, Fla. and Rutherford, N.J. The UFL is led by Commissioner Michael Huyghue, COO Frank Vuono and is being funded by a consortium of private investors. For more information on the UFL and how to purchase tickets for the UFL’s “Premiere” season, please visit www.ufl-football.com. For group ticket sales, please call 877.UFL.2009.
I am proud to have supported this league when they played down here in central Florida! I bought 6 tickets to each game down here, and I look forward to buying my season tickets for next year. When you read stories about the UFL getting involved in their communities it makes you realize what kind of an organization this is! Go Florida Tuskers!