Tillman's Hometown Club to Hold Benefit Event

Tillman's hometown club to hold benefit event
Almaden Valley Athletic Club to donate proceeds to Pat Tillman Foundation

San Jose, CA (July 7, 2005) - Nearly 20 years ago, Pat Tillman was just another boy swimming in the Almaden Valley Athletic Club pool. Today, he's a national icon recognized for caring more about his country than his high-paying professional football career.

The club is honoring Tillman's memory with a Celebration Under the Stars event on July 30 from 7 to 10 p.m. Proceeds from the event will go to the Pat Tillman Foundation, which is continuing Pat's legacy of civic-focused leadership and academic excellence with its Leadership Through Action™ program. San Jose-based financial planning firm The Hall Walsworth Group, part of the Citigroup family, is the event's title sponsor.

The foundation is named in honor of scholar-athlete Pat Tillman, a former professional football player who gave up a lucrative sports career to serve his country as a U.S. Army Ranger. The Leadership Through Action™ Program is a two-semester class that promotes the growth of civic-minded leaders in Tillman's mold. It will launch at Arizona State University, Tillman's alma mater, during the 2005 fall semester. Funds raised at the July 30 event will go toward the foundation's efforts to expand Leadership Through Action™ to the Bay Area.

"On behalf of the Almaden Valley Athletic Club, I am pleased to partner with the Pat Tillman Foundation to host this exciting celebration of Pat's life," said Joe Shank, owner of AVAC. "Every year AVAC identifies special individuals whose courage and exemplary life have touched the community. It is only natural that we've chosen to memorialize Pat Tillman at AVAC in the community he grew up."

In further recognition of Tillman's local ties, the Celebration Under the Stars event will feature local favorite The Joe Sharino Band; which played at his wedding. Several San Jose area restaurants are also donating their efforts to the event.

Tickets are available at the Almaden Valley Athletic Club for $25 each or $40 per couple. For more information, please call (408) 445- 4953 or e-mail tillmancelebration@avac.us. The Almaden Valley Athletic Club is at 5400 Camden Avenue, San Jose, California, 95120.

Download the flyer for more information »

About the Pat Tillman Foundation
The Tillman family created the Pat Tillman Foundation following his death in April 2004. The foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, is determined to carry Pat's legacy forward by inspiring people to make positive changes in themselves and in the world around them. To learn more about the foundation, visit its Website at www.pattillmanfoundation.org.

Contact:
Greg Edgar
Gordon C. James Public Relations
(602) 274-1988

About the Almaden Valley Athletic Club
The Almaden Valley Athletic Club, (AVAC), is the Bay Area's premier, award-winning family facility offering total health, fitness and wellness programs for all ages including adults, children and seniors. AVAC's resort-style facility features luxurious amenities, Pilates, swimming, tennis and social activities as well as a 1,500 square foot Childcare facility and the MORE Chiropractic and Rehabilitation clinic. The 8,500-square foot Fitness Center offers the latest workout equipment with Cardio Theatre, a fully equipped studio featuring STOTT PILATES™ equipment, reformer and mat training, as well as a state-of-the-art Functional Fitness and Stretching area. Certified instructors and personal trainers teach group classes and one-on-one training. AVAC is Northern California's exclusively licensed certification center for STOTT PILATES™. AVAC offers a retractable roof teaching pool for year-round swimming lessons and a 25-yard outdoor swimming pool. Winner of the coveted USTA Club of the Year award, AVAC hosts a year-round tennis program on its 11 lighted tennis courts. AVAC is home to the largest Senior Wellness program in the South Bay, offering Group exercise classes and social events. For more information, please visit www.avac.us.