Winter X Games Aspen

January 24th, 2008 at 06:45pm Aspen Life 373

Team ESPN Kicks Off Winter X Games

Dear Casey,Team ESPN will be hosting the second annual “Don’t Give Up” snowboard auction that will raise funds and awareness for The V Foundation for Cancer Research. Blank snowboards, donated by O-Matic Snowboards for a second consecutive year, have been designed by professional athletes and highly acclaimed artists to be auctioned in conjunction with Winter X Games 12.Seven boards will be up for bidding via silent auction from January 23 through 27 at three locations in Aspen: The Aspen Club, The Cantina and the Winter X Games 12 VIP tent at Buttermilk Mountain. An additional six boards will be available for bidding on eBay from January 24 through February 3.

Three boards on display on www.expn.com (left to right): renowned artists Jim Mahfood, Noah and Taylor Reeve

“Over the past 15 years, ESPN has been proud to support The V Foundation for Cancer Research, an organization that has made a tremendous impact on the lives of anyone who has been touched by cancer directly or indirectly,” said Juliet Gilliam, ESPN Senior Director, Corporate Outreach. “We are excited to be able to host the second annual snowboard auction and it is our sincere hope that this will provide an opportunity to increase awareness regarding the V Foundation among audiences of all ages who enjoy watching and participating in the Winter X Games.”

The snowboards will be on display at The Aspen Club, The Cantina and the Winter X Games VIP tent will feature the work of artists David Swift, Max Grundy, Jay Alders, Jim Mahfood and Taylor Reeve, as well as two snowboards autographed by Winter X Games athletes.

Bidding will close on January 27 at 8 p.m. MT at The Aspen Club, 9 p.m. MT at the VIP tent and 10 p.m. MT at The Cantina. The eBay auction will feature boards painted by professional snowboarders Tricia Byrnes and Chanelle Sladics, and artists Noah, MarcoArt, Mark Richmond, and Hart & Huntington Tattoo Company’s Orlando. These boards will be available for bidding at http://stores.ebay.com/ESPN-Auctions concluding on February 3 at 7 p.m. MT. All winners of the silent and online auctions will be notified directly.

For more information and updates on the silent auction, please visit www.jimmyv.org and www.EXPN.com.

About The V Foundation for Cancer Research

The V Foundation for Cancer Research was founded in 1993 by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano, legendary North Carolina State basketball coach and ESPN commentator. Since 1993, The Foundation has raised more than $70 million to fund cancer research grants nationwide. It awards 100 percent of all new direct cash donations and net proceeds of events directly to cancer research and related programs. The Foundation, which has received five consecutive top 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator, awards grants through a competitive awards process strictly supervised by a Scientific Review Committee. For more information on The V Foundation or to make a donation, please visitwww.jimmyv.org.

About Team ESPN

Team ESPN encompasses ESPN’s multi-faceted corporate outreach programs including volunteerism, corporate giving and cause marketing, while utilizing its diverse media assets. Through Team ESPN, ESPN, its employees, and its fans work together to make a difference in our world and the communities in which we live. Team ESPN. . .Fans Helping Fans. www.teamespn.com.

Visit www.espnmediazone.com for ESPN’s latest releases, schedules and other news, plus photos, video and audio clips and more.