Stars Join PUMA for the Project Pink Celebrity Soccer Game

What happens when you mix a couple of gold medalists, a reigning MVP, some actors and a soccer pitch? Hopefully, some kicks in the fight against breast cancer! Sportlifestyle brand PUMA^® is inviting professional athletes and celebrities to show their support and skills on the soccer pitch in a special match benefiting the brand’s breast cancer awareness and fundraising initiative, Project Pink. This year PUMA asks players and fans “Who do you wear your pink for?” Empowering all to show their support, take action and affect change. The game will kick off on Saturday, October 13, 2012 at 2 pm at Titan Stadium at California State University Fullerton in Fullerton, California.

The team rosters include Actor Josh Bowman of ABC’s Revenge; Actor Charlie Bewley ofTwilight; Actress Aimee Teegarden of NBC’s Friday Night Lights; professional soccer player and 2012 US Olympic gold medalist Amy Rodriguez; US Olympic gold medalist and two-time world champion, Julie Foudy; professional soccer player and Vancouver Whitecaps Defender, Jay DeMerit; professional soccer player and New England Revolution Goalkeeper, Matt Reis, who will be serving as coach; 2012 Olympic bronze medalist and Canadian Women’s National Team Goalkeeper, Karina LeBlanc; Former MLS player and four-time FIFA World Cup participant, Kasey Keller; professional soccer player, D.C. United Midfielder, and all-time leading scorer for the Canadian National Team and reigning MLS MVP, Dwayne De Rosario, who will be serving as coach; and many more professional athletes and celebrity guests.

“I am so excited to be getting out on the field for such a worthy cause,” said Julie Foudy. “It is really important to help young women and men feel empowered to get involved and make a difference, Project Pink provides a great outlet for them to take action.”

100% of the profits from the ticket sales to this match will be donated to the 2012 Project Pink recipient – who will be announced at a pre-game ceremony along with the grand total of donations from the program. Tickets for the game are $15.00 plus handling fees and are available for purchase now at ticketmaster.com and puma.com/projectpink.

Project Pink, which is rooted in women’s soccer, is in its third season and fresh off the heels of a $100,000+ donation to the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation in 2011. Young women around the country are empowered by Project Pink to take action and effect change. Whether it be by buying a tee, tweeting #projectpink, nominating, voting or rocking pink hair for the season, Project Pink is an opportunity for women to join the fight against breast cancer — and for more than just the month of October. Project Pink has had support from professional athletes and celebrities including Ashley Tisdale and Nina Dobrev who have all worn their pink proudly. PUMA kicked off nominations in July at puma.com/projectpink, where supporters have nominated a deserving charity, large or small, that’s connected to the cause. (Past nominees have included everything from support groups to research organizations.) Voting opened on September 24^th, and the organization that takes the most votes will ultimately take home all of the funds raised this year. PUMA has once again pledged to donate 100% of profits* from the sale of Project Pink gear as well as one dollar for each tweet using the hashtag #projectpink.

“We are excited to add this match to our Project Pink programming for 2012,” said Tara McRae, Vice President of Strategic Planning & Brand Management at PUMA North America. “With the mix of talents on the field it is sure to be a fun game. We are so pleased that these athletes and guests would lend their time to help in the fight against breast cancer.”

For more information on PUMA’s Project Pink initiative, and program updates, visit puma.com/projectpink. Follow @PUMA on Twitter for more updates and Like PUMA on Facebook at facebook.com/puma.

* Up to $120,000, including funds raised from all other Project Pink programming this season.

When: Saturday, October 13, 2012 2:00 PM

Where: Titan Stadium, Cal State Fullerton, 800 North State College Blvd, Fullerton, CA

Who:

Josh Bowman — ABC’s Revenge
Charlie Bewley — Twilight
Aimee Teegarden — NBC’s Friday Night Lights
Amy Rodriguez —2012 US Olympic gold medalist
Julie Foudy — US Olympic gold medalist and two-time world champion
Matt Reis — Professional soccer player and New England Revolution Goalkeeper
Karina Leblanc — 2012 Olympic bronze medalist and Canadian Women’s National Team Goalkeeper
Kasey Keller — Former MLS player and four-time FIFA World Cup participant
Dwayne De Rosario — Professional soccer player, D.C. United Midfielder, reigning MLS MVP and all-time leading scorer for the Canadian National Team