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FAVRE FANS SPEND
SUPER BOWL SUNDAY
HELPING
SPECIAL OLYMPICS
Contact:
Thomas Hapka, Erick Rolfson – 800.350.5041
E-mail: contactus@letterstobrettfavre.html
WAUSAU, WISCONSIN - February 2, 2009 - For millions of football fans
around the world, Super Bowl Sunday was about cheering a favorite
team, sharing great food and great fun with close friends, or
simply reveling in a game that’s become the greatest spectacle
the world of professional sports has to offer. But for three
devoted Brett Favre fans in Wisconsin, it was an opportunity to
put their passion for football and their favorite quarterback to
good use on behalf of a worthy cause — in this case, the Special
Olympics.
Erick and Adam Rolfson, the brothers who
founded a popular Brett Favre fan organization, and Wisconsin
author Thomas Hapka, have teamed up to help the charity, which has
long been of Brett Favre’s favorite causes. The trio spent the
weekend, including Super Sunday, promoting the Wisconsin Winter
Games, which were held in
Wausau
for the 20th consecutive year.
The Rolfsons were featured speakers at the
games, delivering an address to more than 300 athletes, their
families and coaches on Saturday evening at the opening
ceremonies.
“It’s an honor
that Special Olympics Wisconsin asked us to speak at this
event,” Erick Rolfson told the gathering. “These athletes and
the courageous effort they put forth are truly inspiring, and
it’s a privilege to be part of the Winter Games.”
Special Olympians
competed in a variety of events throughout the weekend, including alpine
skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, and snowshoe racing.
Six athletes from Wisconsin
will be going on to compete in the World Olympic Games in Boise,
Idaho, February 6th through the 13th.
In addition to
donating their time at Special Olympics events, Hapka and the
Rolfsons are also doing a statewide publicity tour for the
organization while promoting their new book, “Letters To Brett
Favre: A Fan Tribute.” Comprised of letters from fans
around the world and colorful essays by the author, prominent
bloggers, and sportswriters, the book is a compelling account of
the many ways the future Hall-of-Famer has touched the lives of
people from all walks of life.
Hapka,
himself a lifelong football fan, had this to say about the book
— and Favre — in a recent interview at the
University
of
Wisconsin-Whitewater.
”I
always knew that Brett’s fans felt a powerful connection to him,
but I didn’t realize just how deep that connection was until I
began reading the many letters supplied for this book. From a
woman who demanded to have the Packer game piped into the delivery
room so “Number Four could be with her” during the birth of
her first child, to the many fans who credit Brett with helping
them survive everything from injuries and drug addictions to
battles with cancer and the deaths of loved ones, I gained real
insight into the many ways this football superstar has affected
countless families — including mine.”
Hapka and the Rolfsons are donating a
portion of the proceeds from the sale of “Letters
To Brett Favre: A Fan Tribute” to the Special Olympics. Dennis
Alldridge, president of Special Olympics Wisconsin, formally
endorsed the book last week.
“A HUGE majority of our Special Olympics
athletes, coaches and staff members are hard-core Favre fans, but
we are so impressed to see a wonderful compilation of Favre “fan
mail” that shares our excitement about what he gave to the team,
the state, and even to Special Olympics Wisconsin!” Alldridge
said in a statement from his office.
Adam Rolfson, who recently appeared on the
Madison CW with his brother and Hapka, had this to say about the
project. “I never dreamed that our
work on the ‘Bring Back Brett Favre’ campaign would afford us
the opportunity to pair up with Tom, create this book, and become
involved with the Special Olympics,” Rolfson said. “We’re
using the book as a tool to help raise money and public awareness
for the Special Olympics, including the chapters in
New York, Mississippi
and Wisconsin.”
Special Olympics chapters in Wisconsin, New
York, and Favre’s home state of
Mississippi
will equally split a percentage of the profits from the sale of
the book, and additional book signings are being organized to help
each of the respective chapters with their immediate project
goals.
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