Bands For Freedom Foundation, Inc. Bolstered By High-profile NFL Celebrity Endorsements

OREM, Utah – Bands For Freedom Foundation, Inc. today announced a major influx of support from well-known National Football League (NFL) players and personalities in its efforts to raise funds for the Armed Forces Relief Trust (AFRT) and thereby support the American men and women in uniform.

18 past and present NFL players added their names to the Bands For Freedom “Heroes Page,” an online list of supporters for the U.S. troops via the Bands For Freedom Foundation and the AFRT.

Terrell Owens, all-star wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles, tops the list of supporters. Owens is a five-time NFL Pro Bowl selectee and made big news during the 2004-2005 season by returning to play in the Super Bowl despite and ankle injury and at the behest of team doctors. Also supporting the U.S. troops and Bands For Freedom is Michael Irvin, all-everything wide-out for the Dallas Cowboys and current ESPN analyst. Irvin and Owens are ardent supporters of numerous charities and were recently seen wearing the patriotic wristbands at the 2005 Pro Bowl in Hawaii.

Ahman Green, the Green Bay Packers’ top-rated running back, is another high-profile advocate of Bands For Freedom. Since coming to Green Bay in 2000, Green leads all NFL players in yards from scrimmage (7,598) and rushing yards (5,685). Quarterback Daunte Culpepper of the Minnesota Vikings also wears the red, white and blue wristbands. Culpepper lead the league in 2004 in passing yards with (4,717) and 39 touchdowns (best in the National Football Conference). His quarterback rating was second best in the league to Peyton Manning.

The growing list of Bands For Freedom supporters includes the following:

· Sam Adams, the Buffalo Bills’ 335-pound nose tackle;
· Steve Atwater, retired Pro Bowl safety for the Denver Broncos known for his hard-hitting style;
· Mitch Berger, the New Orleans Saints’ veteran punter;
· Kris Brown, the current NFL place-kicker for the Houston Texans;
· Mike Golic, nine-year NFL veteran defensive tackle, current ESPN commentator and co-host of ESPN radio’s “Mike and Mike in the Morning;”
· Tony Gonzalez, the Kansas City Chiefs’ all-star tight end with more than 100 catches this season alone;
· Ted Hendricks, eight-time Pro Bowl participant and Hall of Fame defensive end;
· Warren Moon, 18-year NFL quarterback for the Houston Oilers, was a nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback;
· Mushin Muhammad, Carolina Panthers’ most widely utilized receiver;
· Ed Reed, Baltimore Ravens’ safety and 2004 NFL Defensive Player of the Year;
· Ike Reese, a first-time Pro Bowl selection and valued linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles;
· Lito Sheppard, up-and-coming cornerback for the Eagles;
· Tra Thomas, the Eagles’ three-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman; and
· Jeremiah Trotter, Philadelphia’s physical and explosive middle linebacker.

“We are grateful to have so many NFL heroes supporting our cause,” said Steve Cloward, president and chief executive officer of Bands For Freedom. “But, anyone can do this, which is what we think is so great about these wristbands. You don’t have to be a millionaire or a sports hero. You just have to recognize the great service being done by the troops and then support them by wearing the Bands For Freedom wristbands.”

The creators of Bands For Freedom are donating 100 percent of its after-cost revenue to the Armed Forces Relief Trust (AFRT) to aid soldiers and their families. The AFRT has a proud history of providing needed funds for soldiers-in-crisis. Soldiers who must travel back to the United States for a funeral, the birth of a child or other emergency can turn to the AFRT to access the money they need to travel. Soldiers and their families can also apply for interest-free loans from the AFRT to help with bills while their family member is away serving their country.

Bands For Freedom wristbands are similar to those made popular by the Lance Armstrong Wear Yellow Live Strong Foundation. According to the Lance Armstrong Foundation, more than 32 million Live Strong Wristbands™ have been purchased. The new Bands For Freedom wristbands were created to bolster support for the war on terror and U.S. troops who sacrifice for freedom.

The wristbands come in both youth and adult sizes and can be purchased at www.bandsforfreedom.com. For more information about Bands For Freedom, please visit www.bandsforfreedom.com or call (866) 217-5595.

About Bands For Freedom Foundation Incorporated
Created in 2004, Bands For Freedom follows the lead of its predecessor, Freedombands, Inc., and has become an enormously popular supplier of patriotic silicone wristbands that come in red, white, blue and desert camouflage, as well as a marbled band with combinations of all three patriotic colors. The wristbands are marked with the word “FREEDOM” and are designed to aid Americans in making a respectful and unified statement in honor of the men and women of the armed forces. Bands For Freedom donates all after-cost proceeds to the Armed Forces Relief Trust.

About The Armed Forces Relief Trust
The Armed Forces Relief Trust (www.afrtrust.org) is a unique non-profit fund created to collect donations for U.S. troops and their families. The AFRT raises money to support the men and women of the U.S. armed forces and their families and, unlike many other charitable organizations, distributes 100 percent of the money it raises among the five divisions of the U.S. military.

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Media Contact:
Matt Clayton, Politis Communications, 801-523-3730(wk), mclayton@politis.com