With the game on the line, former Central Connecticut star Tristan Blackwood, has what it takes to make the big shot!

You can catch Tristan Blackwood plus 19 other Canadian basketball stars this Saturday at York University (Tait McKenzie Centre), 3:30pm, as they battle in the 5th Annual All-Star Charity Shootout “Clash of the Charities”

For immediate release
July 12, 2010

Hoops that help:
Fifth annual All-Star Charity Shootout features Clash of the Charities
- Proceeds to benefit War Child Canada and Michael “Pinball” Clemons Foundation -
- Event includes free barbecue, live entertainment and great prizes! - 

TORONTO, ON: Join CFL legend Michael “Pinball” Clemons, and some of Canada’s best men’s basketball players in support of two worthy charities at the fifth annual All-Star Charity Shootout (ASCS) next Saturday, July 17 at York University. The event will kick off at 3:30 p.m. with some of the country’s most talented hoopsters from college and university, in addition to those playing professional basketball in Europe, as they battle in the Clash of the Charities.

This year’s event will feature teams representing two worthy charities: War Child Canada and the Michael Pinball Clemons Foundation. The winning team’s charity will receive 60 per cent of the proceeds with the remaining 40 per cent directed to the other charity. To celebrate the ASCS’s fifth year, guests will also be able to enjoy a free barbecue and live entertainment while Flow 93.5’s DJ P-Plus will be spinning tunes during the game.

Don’t miss this exciting event. Tickets are still available for only $25 for adults, $20 for students (with valid identification); $10 for children aged seven to 15; and children under seven are free!

To purchase tickets, please visit www.allstarcharityshooutout.com  or contact:

Alyson Rowe, War Child Canada
T: 416.971.7474 or 1.866.WARCHILD (927.2445)

For more information:
www.allstarcharityshootout.com or www.facebook.com/ascs.fans

Media inquiries:

Fitzallen Sutton
T: 416.875.7385
E: fsutton@allstarcharityshootout.com

All-Star Charity Shootout is proud to support War Child Canada, in the upcoming “Clash of the Charities” event, taking place July 17, 3:30pm at York University.

Founded in 1999, War Child Canada currently provides active support to numerous countries including Afghanistan, Ethiopia and Sierra Leone, through initiatives that benefit more than 100,000 children and their families annually. 90 cents of every dollar received go directly to programs overseas helping to create a world where no child knows war.

Your support July 17, will assist War Child Canada build sustainable programming that empowers war-affected children and their communities

After an illustrious CFL career, that produced 4 Grey Cup Championships, Michael “Pinball” Clemons started his foundation in 2007.

The foundation believes that no contribution is too small and anyone’s participation, no matter how simple, will set off a positive chain reaction in lives of youth.

Listen as he speaks on behalf of Free the Children about “Being the Change.”

Thank you for your support, an email confirmation has been sent to the address provided.

In addition, today’s ticket purchase has entered you in the BALL & WIN contest for your chance to win a $500 Visa Gift Card!

Should you have any questions, please contact us at info@allstarcharityshootout.com

Thanks again, look forward to seeing you,  July 17 at York University, 3:30pm

13. Dejan Kravic
York University (CIS)
Highlights
League all-rookie team

14. Mitch Leger
Queen’s University (CIS)
Highlights
Led country in rebounds: Leagues All-Star

15. Jared Mintz
Lafayette College (NCAA)
Highlights
First team All Patriot League

16. Greg Surmaz
AZS Koszalin (professional)
Highlights
All-Canadian in 2008-2009

17. Boris Bakovic
Ryerson University (CIS)
Highlights
Second in country in scoring and First team league all-star

18. Eric Smith
Durham College (CCAA)
Highlights
First team league all-star

19. Tristan Martin
Premier Basketball League (professional)
Highlights
Averaged 18.9 points per game

20. Jovain Wilson
Fleming College (CCAA)
Highlights
All-Canadian and OCAA player of the year

Don’t miss out on your chance to see these players go head-to-head, all for a good cause. Tickets are now on sale for just $25 for adults, $20 for students (with valid identification); $10 for children aged seven to 15; and children under seven are free! Buy your ticket before June 25 for a chance to win a $500 Visa gift card.

Not only will you be part of a fun and exciting basketball experience, you’ll be celebrating five years of raising funds to provide better lives for youth in the community, the country and around the world. This year, the ASCS is proud to support War Child Canada and the Michael “Pinball” Clemons Foundation.

This year’s event will be bigger and better than ever, with a free barbecue, live entertainment and celebrity appearances following the game. So what are you waiting for? Get your ticket from Fitzallen Sutton (416.875.7385); Alyson Rowe (416.971.7474); or click here today!

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1. Alex Johnson
California State University, Bakersfield (NCAA)
Highlights
Injured in 2010; led team in steals, assists and three-point shooting in 2009

2. Tristan Blackwood
Eiffel Towers Den Bosch (professional)
Highlights
Averaged more than 10 points per game in 38 games

3. David Tyndale
York University (CIS)
Highlights
CIS All-Rookie team and second team league all-star

4. Isaac Kwan
University of Windsor (CIS)
Highlights
First team league all-star

5. Nick Magalas
University of Toronto (CIS)
Highlights
First team league all-star

6. Clinton Springer
Brock University (CIS)
Highlights
First team league all-star and CIS Rookie of the Year

7. Tut Ruach
York University (CIS)
Highlights
CIS Rookie of the Year and three-time league all-star

8. Andre Wilkins
Cornell University (NCAA)
Highlights
Played 17 games in 2009-2010

9. Antwi Athuene
Viva Amida (professional)
Highlights
Newcomer of the Year in 2005

10. Jamie Searle
Lakehead University (CIS)
Highlights
First team league all-star

11. Matthew Thornhill
McGill University (CIS)
Highlights
All-Canadian and league MVP

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The fifth annual All-Star Charity Shootout (ASCS) will feature 20 of the best basketball players across Canada. Whether they play at the college or university level or have taken their skills to the professional leagues of Europe, they will all come together to showcase their talent in the name of charity.

This year’s featured players:

Jared Mintz – Lafayette College – NCAA

A 6’8” forward ready to enter his senior year at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, Jared Mintz recently capped off a tremendously successful junior season in 2009-2010. The 22-year-old Biology major from Toronto, Ontario was named a member of the first-team All Patriot League team last year, averaging more than 14 points, five rebounds and two assists per game, while leading the Lafayette Leopards of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to a 19-13 overall record and a berth in the Patriot League championship final.

A fierce presence in the paint, Mintz has steadily worked his way to a starting role with the Leopards, playing 23 games as a freshman and 28 games as a sophomore with 13 starts in 2008-2009, posting five career double-doubles along the way. Before joining Lafayette in 2007, Mintz was a four-time MVP at the Community Hebrew Academy of Toronto and led his high school team of Vaughn Academy to a 42-9 record. He also represented Canada at the Pan-Am Maccabi Games in Chile in 2003 and the World Maccabi Games held in Israel in 2005.

Matthew Thornhill – McGill University – CIS

He may have played his entire 2009-2010 basketball season with a broken nose but it didn’t stop Matthew Thornhill from having an outstanding year on the court. The 6’4” guard from Île-Bizard, Quebec was named a member of the All-Canadian Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) team and most outstanding player of the year in the Quebec University Basketball League (QUBL) as a senior studying Management (Finance) at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec.

As a member of the Redmen, the 23-year-old led the QUBL in scoring, averaging more than 18 points per game and finished in the top ten in the conference in three-point shooting (second); free-throw percentage (third); minutes played (third);  defensive rebounds (sixth); and field-goal shooting (ninth). He also finished 12th in steals and rebounding and also received All-Conference Team honours.

Coaches

Team War Child Canada – Bob Bain

Bob Bain is widely recognized as a coaching legend in men’s university basketball, having recently retired this past February after 37 years at the helm of the York men’s team. A two-time CIS coach of the year and six-time OUA coach of the year, Bain coached his final game for the Lions on February 20.

Where success is concerned, the numbers don’t lie for Bain. During his illustrious tenure, Bain led his teams to 11 OUA East Division championships, six OUA titles and two bronze medals in eight CIS championship tournament appearances. In those 37 years with Bain leading the way, the men’s basketball squad qualified for the playoffs 33 times.

Team Michael ‘Pinball’ Clemons Foundation – Mike Katz

In 2004, Mike Katz, already one of the most renowned men’s basketball coaches in Canadian college history, made the jump to university basketball in 2004 and thus began another successful chapter in is coaching career.

Before joining the University of Toronto Varsity Blues, Katz spent 19 seasons as head coach of the men’s basketball team at Humber College, leading the Hawks to seven provincial championships and five national titles. In addition to being a four-time OCAA and three-time CIS coach of the year, Katz is also the assistant coach of the Canadian national basketball team and took part in the 2000 Olympic Games and world basketball championships in 1993 and 2002.

Next Page

TORONTO, ON: Don’t miss your chance to see some of Canada’s best hoopsters clash on the court in support of charities at the All-Star Charity Shootout (ASCS) at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 17 at York University. The fifth annual event will see some of the country’s star basketball players from college and university, in addition to those playing professional basketball in Europe, battle in the Clash of the Charities.

Tickets go on sale next Tuesday, May 18 and can be purchased from Fitzallen Sutton at All-Star Charity Shootout or Alyson Rowe at War Child Canada (details below). Prices are only $25 for adults, $20 for students (with valid identification); $10 for children aged seven to 15; and children under seven are free! Those who purchase their tickets by Friday, June 25 will be entered into the Ball and Win contest for a chance to win a $500 Visa gift card.

This year’s event will feature teams representing two worthy charities: War Child Canada and the Michael Pinball Clemons Foundation. The winning team’s charity will receive 60 per cent of the proceeds with the remaining 40 per cent directed to the other charity. To celebrate the ASCS’s fifth year, guests will also be able to enjoy a free barbecue and live entertainment following the game.

To purchase tickets, please click here or contact:

Fitzallen Sutton, All-Star Charity Shootout
T: 416.875.7385;

Alyson Rowe, War Child Canada
T: 416.971.7474 or 1.866.WARCHILD (927.2445)

For more information:
www.allstarcharityshootout.com