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LANGHORNE, PA ¨C Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc. (PWLS), the largest national youth football and heerleading organization in the United States, and the Arena Football League (AFL) have announced today at the Pop Warner 50th Super Bowl a strategic partnership that extends throughout both the AFL and its developmental league, af2.
The creation of the partnership grants the AFL designation as an ¡°Official Partner of Pop Warner¡± and Pop Warner designation as an ¡°Official Youth Football Partner of the Arena Football League.¡± As a result of the partnership, Pop Warner programs will benefit from being involved in AFL youth football initiatives and will help Pop Warner to increase awareness of existing and new Pop Warner programs in AFL and af2 markets. The AFL, in their continued efforts to foster an interest in football, will benefit from Pop Warner¡¯s more than 400,000 participants and will have an active presence in this week¡¯s Pop Warner 50th Super Bowl and National Championship Week which is held annually each December at Disney¡¯s Wide World of Sports Complex. The AFL joins other Pop Warner partners including the NFL; NFL Players Association; Players, Inc.; Disney Sports; ESPN Magazine and USA Football.
¡°Football provides a platform for today¡¯s youth to learn countless life lessons," said AFL Commissioner DAVID BAKER. "We cannot be more thrilled to partner with Pop Warner, a group that shares the same ideals as the Arena Football League when it comes to the value of youth sports. We are grateful to be given the opportunity to communicate these invaluable messages.¡±
The two organizations have been working closely together over the last year culminating with Pop Warner establishing the AFL Team of the Year Award, presented each year at its National Awards and All-American Scholar Banquet in May. The award is given to an AFL team that demonstrates commitment and support of Pop Warner programs in AFL markets. This year¡¯s award went to the Orlando Predators, who worked with Central Florida Pop Warner programs in 2005 and brought Predators¡¯ players, mascot and coaches to the 2005 Pop Warner Super Bowl and National Championship Week to participate in a variety of events, including pre-game pep talks and ceremonial coin-tosses. The Predators also provided game tickets to a number of Pop Warner programs in Central Florida during the 2006 AFL season. The Albany Conquest of af2 has been working with Pop Warner¡¯s Challenger Division, a program that started three years ago in the Albany, NY area for kids and young adults with disabilities, including down syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, and blindness.
¡°The relationship with the AFL allows us to provide greater value and opportunities for our Pop Warner programs in AFL and af2 markets to learn more about the sport of football and be involved in youth programs that enhance our members on -and off-field experiences. It¡¯s great to have a youth partner like the AFL that is so committed to the development and support of today¡¯s young athletes. We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship,¡± said JON BUTLER, Executive Director, Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc.
About Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc.:
Founded in 1929 and headquartered in Langhorne, PA. Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc. is the largest national youth football and cheerleading organization in the United States and the only youth sports organization that emphasizes academics as an equivalent to athletics. Currently there are over 400,000 children in Pop Warner organizations in 43 states, Guam, Scotland, Germany, Russia, Japan and Mexico.
Great to see such a partnership! ||an_clap.gif' border=0>
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