From: Ryan Stanzel
Director of Communications
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
713.361.7930 (Direct Line)

AEROS, WATSON FAMILY FOUNDATION UNVEIL THREE CHARITY PROGRAMS FOR PLAYOFFS

HOUSTON, Texas – The Watson Family Foundation has announced three charity-driven programs for the 2006 Calder Cup Playoffs: “Saves: Saving Lives”, “All-Stars for All-Stars” and “Rookies for Ronald”. The programs began with Game 1 of the West Division Semifinals against Peoria, and the Aeros are giving their fans a chance to help out! The totals raised by these programs in the post-season are: $2420 for Saves: Saving Lives, $500 for All-Stars for All-Stars and $550 for Rookies for Ronald.


“The Watson family is incredibly proud of our young athletes and how they’ve performed all season,” said Aeros owner Chuck Watson. “We look forward to the playoffs. These players are stepping up for these charities, and we’re happy to honor these players who have honored the Aeros, their teammates and the city of Houston both on and off the ice.”

Ronald McDonald House Houston (www.ronaldmcdonaldhousehouston.org) is the beneficiary for “Rookies for Ronald”. Ronald McDonald House will receive $50 per goal scored by a rookie, or an assist on another rookie’s goal, in the 2006 Calder Cup Playoffs. Each year, thousands of children are treated in Houston for serious illnesses. Often, they travel long distances for treatment and, for their families, anxiety over the child’s illness is compounded by lengthy hospital stays, months of outpatient treatment, and the expense of being away from home. From the time that the Ronald McDonald House of Houston opened its doors in 1981 the mission has been to offer a home away from home to the families of these children while they undergo treatment for cancer and other serious illnesses at a Texas Medical Center institution. Ronald McDonald House is constructing facilities on two floors at Memorial Hermann Children’s Hospital, including the ninth floor – future home of the Aeros playroom. Ronald McDonald House will have seven rooms on each of the two floors. To make a pledge for Rookies for Ronald, click here and include a phone number in the e-mail, and someone will contact you.

“Saves: Saving Lives” will benefit Boys & Girls Country. The Watsons will make a donation of $10 for every save made by an Aeros goalie in the 2006 Calder Cup Playoffs. Boys and Girls Country (www.boysandgirlscountry.org) was established in 1971 as a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit charitable Home. Their mission is to provide high quality residential care in a Christian environment for children from families in crisis, primarily from the greater Houston area. They are located 35 miles northwest of Houston. Residents live on campus in cottages with trained house parents and attend public school. They also participate in outside activities, such as church, band, sports, summer camps, etc. Boys and Girls Country has capacity to serve 56 boys and 32 girls, ages 5-18, a total of 88 children at any one time. They have been home for over one thousand children during our history. To make a pledge for Saves: Saving Lives, click here and include a phone number in the e-mail, and someone will contact you.

“All-Stars for All-Stars” will aid After School All Stars. The Watsons will give $50 per goal and $50 per assist garnered by each of the Aeros three First Team All-Stars – Kirby Law, Erik Westrum and Curtis Murphy. The assist donation is provided the player assists on a fellow All-Stars goal. The mission of After-School All-Stars (www.asasgh.org) is to provide comprehensive out-of-school programs that keep children safe and help them achieve in school and life. Trained Staff is on hand for homework help, tutoring and mentoring. They work closely with schools to create programs that support existing curriculums and standards of achievement in reading, math and science. To make a pledge for All-Stars for All-Stars, click here and include a phone number in the e-mail, and someone will contact you.


---HOUSTON AEROS, BE A FAN---