The United Service Organizations (USO) is Selected Official Charity Partner for the 2006 Atlantic City Lenape Trail Classic

Marlton, NJ, November 16, 2006 --(PR.com)-- Arden Branch, organizers of The Atlantic City Lenape Trail Classic, is pleased to announce that it has selected the United Service Organizations (USO) as the official charity partner for its 2006 men’s college basketball game, featuring Temple University and the University of Cincinnati. This event is scheduled to begin at 4pm on December 9th at the historic Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. In addition to a financial donation, Arden Branch will also donate 1,000 tickets to the event for members of the military and their families, and offer the broadcast of the game to 850,000 service men and women in 177 countries and U.S. territories through the American Forces Network (AFN).

“This year’s game will be dedicated to the million+ men and women serving in the U.S. Armed Forces,” said Dale Irby, President of Arden Branch Sports Group. “We want to pay homage to those young men and women whose voluntary service enables other young men and women to play college sports. This is our way of saying Thank You, and the USO is our vehicle for carrying this message.”

All ticket holders will also be pleasantly surprised by the access and perks granted with each ticket stub when presented to select Atlantic City restaurants, clubs and bars, as outlined in the Tickets and Hospitality section on the event website, www.ltchoops.com

“We couldn’t be more pleased to be associated with this event, and with the generous folks at Arden Branch,” said DJ Stanhope, Executive Director of the USO of Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey (“Liberty USO”). “Not only is this a great morale activity for the troops and their families, it focuses public attention on the sacrifices of our military and raises funds for Liberty USO’s mission and free programs.”

Brian Whiting, Executive Director of the USO of Metropolitan NY said, “We are honored and privileged to be serving our troops in this capacity, through the assistance of Arden Branch. We hope this game reflects the sentiments of athletes everywhere…without our military securing our freedoms, playing collegiate sports would be difficult to achieve.”

Boardwalk Hall has history with the United States military dating back to July 1942 when the Army Air Forces used Convention Hall as a headquarters and training facility during World War II. Through 1945, tens of thousands of Army Air Force soldiers were prepared for service.

Funds from sponsorships and ticket sales to the Atlantic City Lenape Trail Classic will provide a travel budget for the USO Troupe of Metropolitan NY to perform its Holiday Show live in front of a greater number of military audiences, and enable Liberty USO of Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey to continue their mission serving deploying troops and their families.

For complimentary and other event tickets, members of the Armed Forces should contact:

Liberty USO: Paulette Cleveland
pcleveland@libertyuso.org
215.365.8889

USO of Metropolitan NY: Hazel Cathers
hcathers@usonyc.org
212-695-6160 x227

For the general public, the Atlantic City Lenape Trail Classic tickets are on sale now with prices ranging from $15 to $150. Please visit the Tickets and Hospitality section on the event website, www.ltchoops.com, for additional perks that come with your ticket. For ticket information, please visit the Boardwalk Hall Box Office, ticketmaster.com, www.ltchoops.com, or call 800-736-1420. For media information, VIP and hospitality tickets please contact Dale Irby at 856-283-0732, or dirby@ltchoops.com. For sponsorship information, please contact Randy LeTang at 856-283-0978 or rletang@ltchoops.com.

Arden Branch is a full service, integrated communications agency, specializing in the Lifestyle and Emerged marketplaces. They help leading corporations, major television networks, studios, governmental agencies and small to mid-size companies find unique ways to leverage their brand’s assets over a range of media, sports, and entertainment-oriented opportunities, to unlock additional value from them. Their strategies help clients reach groups that are not easily defined by simple demographics, groups driven by lifestyle, passion and instinct rather than closely drawn similarities. For more information please visit www.ardenbranch.com, or contact Randy LeTang at 856-283-0978, rletang@ardenbranch.com.

United Service Organizations (USO)
The USO’s mission is to enhance the quality of life of the U.S. Armed Forces personnel and their families worldwide and to create a cooperative relationship between the U.S. military communities and involved or supporting civilian communities. Far beyond the common public perception of the USO as primarily an “entertainment” organization, 95% of USO programs, services and outreach is delivered by volunteers and staff to soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coastguardsmen 365 days a year in more than 120 locations throughout the globe. Airport centers provide respite to weary military travelers and their families; mobile centers take USO hospitality to the troops in remote locations; care package programs deliver a taste of home to deployed members in Southwest Asia, the mid-East, Europe and Asia; and thousands of volunteers ensure that troops departing and returning to American soil receive a farewell and welcome home.

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