Date: July 25, 2008

New York (July 23, 2008) – Modell’s Sporting Goods has announced today that it has partnered with Pop Warner, the nation’s largest and oldest youth football, cheer and dance organization to create  “Pop Warner Days” at more than 15 retail locations in New York, Washington D.C., Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore and the New Jersey markets. 

Through Pop Warner’s official sponsor, Russell Athletic, the events, which are part of a drive-to-retail initiative, are designed to encourage participation in Pop Warner football and cheerleading and are scheduled to take place at Modell’s retail locations beginning on July 19th and culminating with the kickoff of the 2008 Pop Warner season on August 1st.

As more than 400,000 boys and girls ages 5-to-15 prepare to descend on football fields across the country to kick off the 2008 Pop Warner season, Modell’s, an avid supporter of Pop Warner in the northeast, will host local Pop Warner volunteers and participants at select retail locations and will work with families to help select the proper football equipment for their children. 

Pop Warner Days will be supported with centrally located in store Pop Warner displays featuring Russell, Bike Athletic and Spalding Pop Warner products.  In addition, Modell’s and Russell will also be offering rebates and giveaways.

Pop Warner will also be promoting the upcoming movie, “The Longshots” featuring Ice Cube and Keke Palmer, about the first female African American quarterback to make it to the Pop Warner Super Bowl, by giving away movie posters and family packs of tickets.  To promote Pop Warner participation, organizations will be able to meet with parents and highlight the benefits of Pop Warner participation through in-store PSAs, signage and collateral materials, as well as conduct in-store registrations. 

The Pop Warner Days will feature current and retired NFL players at select locations including New York Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes, Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Chris Gocong, former New England Patriots tight end and 2008 New England Patriots Hall of Fame inductee Ben Coates, former Washington Redskins wide receiver Gary Clark, former offensive tackle Baltimore Raven Orlando Brown, and Baltimore Ravens mascot Poe.* 

In addition to these efforts, Pop Warner programs can receive extra discounts by hosting their Pop Warner Days in conjunction with Modell’s Team Weeks Program wherein Modell’s generously donates a portion of sales to benefit individual Pop Warner programs.

*Players/mascot subject to change