NFL against Cancer

NFL AND AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY EXPAND CRUCIAL CATCH CAMPAIGN TO SUPPORT MULTIPLE CANCERS Expanded Initiative Benefits Early Detection and Risk Reduction Efforts for Multiple Cancers, including Breast Cancer NFL and ACS Launch THE DEFENDER – A Free Digital Assessment Tool That Provides Users with Personalized Plans to Their Reduce Risk of Cancer NFL Teams Select Cancer(s) to Support During Crucial Catch Games in Weeks 5-7 This year, the National Football League and the American Cancer Society (ACS) are expanding their efforts to support the fight against cancer through the “Crucial Catch: Intercept Cancer” campaign. After nearly a decade of supporting breast cancer, the NFL and ACS have evolved the campaign to address early detection and risk reduction efforts for multiple cancers, in addition to breast cancer, to increase their impact. Since 2009, more than $18 million has been raised for ACS through the partnership. Money raised through Crucial Catch this season will be directed towards support of three screenable cancers: breast, colorectal and cervical. Funding will continue to support the American Cancer Society’s Community Health Advocates implementing Nationwide Grants for Empowerment and Equity (CHANGE) program, which provides outreach and cancer screenings to individuals in underserved communities. Since 2012, grant recipients have contributed to nearly 150,000 screenings and more than 450,000 education and outreach interventions. Fans may donate directly to ACS at cancer.org/donate. As part of the campaign, the NFL and ACS recently launched a new, digital tool – THE DEFENDER – that provides consumers with personalized tips to reduce their cancer risk. The Defender, funded by the NFL and developed by ACS, analyzes user-input health information to provide individuals with quick, informative and personalized recommendations on how he or she can take action to reduce his or her cancer risk. More than 50% of all cancers can be prevented through simple lifestyle modifications, like avoiding tobacco, sun exposure, staying fit and healthy through proper nutrition and physical activity. The free user-friendly tool allows fans to take control of their health and increase their understanding of how healthy lifestyle habits can help reduce their cancer risk. Fans may access The Defender at TheDefender.cancer.org. A new Crucial Catch PSA will debut during Sunday’s games. The spot tells the story of a football family – the Kansas City Chiefs organization - that has been impacted by multiple types of cancer to highlight the importance of taking action, seeking ways to reduce cancer risk and getting screened. Two cancer survivors, Kansas City Chiefs’ Owner RITA HUNT and former cheerleader BRANDY REED, and two players personally affected by cancer, P DUSTIN COLQUITT and TE TRAVIS KELCE, discuss the impact of Crucial Catch on their football family and the value of expanding the fight against cancer together. Visit NFL.com/CrucialCatch to learn more. New this year, the NFL and ACS are teaming for the Crucial Catch Challenge, a player fundraising campaign based on on-field performance. Through Pledge It, a performance-based fundraising platform, players from across the league will raise funds in support of ACS based on their on-field statistics, such as number of recorded touchdowns, sacks or interceptions, in Weeks 5-7. Fans can join the Crucial Catch Challenge by visiting CrucialCatchChallenge.org and making a pledge for individual NFL player’s performances. Proceeds will benefit the ACS. For the third consecutive year, healthcare centers in all 32 NFL team markets will receive a CHANGE grant to increase access to screenings and additional cancer prevention and early detection programs. In addition, the NFL will again work with ACS and CHANGE grant recipients to host education sessions and/or screenings in their communities, and many NFL teams will participate in these educational activities, bringing these potentially life-saving messages and screening services to those who need them most. Fans may participate in Crucial Catch and join the fight against cancer by visiting NFL.com/CrucialCatch to access The Defender, donate directly to ACS and pledge to support an NFL player’s Crucial Catch Challenge. The NFL and ACS extended Crucial Catch to the youth and high school level again this year. With the help of USA Football, Carolina Panthers Head Coach RON RIVERA sent a note to youth and high school football coaches across the country offering ideas for how schools and teams can join the fight against cancer. Interested fans may visit cancer.org/youthcrucialcatch to sign up, pledge to fundraise for ACS, and download a toolkit to support their Crucial Catch game. This weekend’s games will kick off the 2017 Crucial Catch campaign. NFL-issued Crucial Catch branding and gameday apparel will feature a new multi-colored logo representing all cancers. NFL teams have the option of supporting one or multiple cancers locally and in-stadium. In addition, Players may wear shoelaces, cleats and wristbands in any color representing the type of cancer awareness they support and/or they’ve been impacted by during their team’s Crucial Catch game. Beginning on Sunday and continuing through Week 7, NFL Crucial Catch games will feature: • Game balls with the Crucial Catch logo used for every down • Multi-colored equipment for players including: helmet decals, captains’ patches, and quarterback towels • Multi-colored ribbon pins for coaches and teams • Caps and pins for game officials • On-field multi-colored ribbon stencils and Crucial Catch wall banners • Multi-colored goal post wraps in end zones Game-worn Crucial Catch merchandise and footballs will be autographed and auctioned at NFL Auction (nfl.com/auction). The NFL does not profit from the sale of Crucial Catch product on NFL Auction. Charitable contributions are donated to the American Cancer Society to support its CHANGE grant program. Ticketmaster, the Official Ticket Exchange of the NFL and NFL clubs, will contribute five dollars for every NFL ticket sold on Ticketmaster and the NFL Ticket Exchange in Weeks 5, 6 and 7 to the American Cancer Society, up to $35,000. Procter & Gamble and Rite Aid, in support of Crucial Catch, are contributing $50,000 to the American Cancer Society. In addition, P&G will be promoting proactive cancer screening, through Rite Aid instore displays, during the month of October. In support of Crucial Catch, Barclaycard is donating 1% of all NFL Extra Points card purchases, up to $25,000, in the month of October to the American Cancer Society. In addition, cardmembers have the ability to use points to donate directly to ACS. The NFL and all 32 teams support Crucial Catch and the fight against cancer all year long. In October, NFL teams designate home games and plan events with local organizations to bring awareness to the cause. Below are ways teams are supporting Crucial Catch this month.