Comcast SportsNet Sports Annual Awards Dinner Benefiting March of Dimes

(Chicago – January 27, 2009) – Some of Chicago's best-known professional athletes will take center stage to receive honors at the 21st Annual Comcast SportsNet Sports Awards presented by Four Seasons Heating & Air Conditioning to benefit the March of Dimes. The dinner, which is also sponsored by Navistar and Farmers Insurance, will be held on Monday, February 9th, 5 – 9 p.m. at the Hilton Chicago, 720 S. Michigan Avenue in Chicago. The emcee is Chicago radio legend and personality Steve Dahl.

The honorees chosen are top athletes from Chicago's professional teams who have made considerable contributions to their teams as well as the Chicago community. This year's honorees include Patrick Kane (Blackhawks), John Danks (White Sox), Drew Gooden (Bulls), Reed Johnson (Cubs), Greg Olsen (Bears) and Brian McBride (Fire). In addition, Bobby Hull, Chicago Blackhawks legend, Hockey Hall of Famer and all-time team leader in goals scored, is this year’s “Lifetime Achievement Award” recipient. This year’s “Farmers Insurance Inspirational Athlete” award winner is Stella McMillan, an 11-year-old congenital amputee, whose perseverance and determination earned her a spot in an outdoor adventure trip in Colorado with the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center in 2007 where her enthusiasm inspired both campers and staff. Among her many athletic activities, Stella excels at baseball, cycling, swimming, kayaking, golf, yoga, horseback riding, and water skiing.

The 900-plus expected attendees for the 21st Annual Comcast SportsNet Sports Awards will also be able to participate in a silent auction featuring Chicago sports packages featuring Cubs Dream Day tickets including batting practice and a chance to throw the first pitch at Wrigley Field, vacation packages including airfare, autographed LeBron James and Wayne Gretzky jerseys, tickets to a White Sox Diamond Suite, a golf outing at Medinah Country Club, tickets to Chicago sports events, spa packages, dinner packages & hotel stays and much more.

Dan Ustian, CEO of Navistar, is the honorary chair of this year’s Comcast SportsNet Sports Awards. William T. Barry, Senior Vice President of Draper & Kramer is the event’s Chairman and James J. Corno is the President of Comcast SportsNet Chicago.

The event will begin with a reception at 5:00 PM, followed by dinner at 6:30 PM. The awards ceremony, which will be carried live on Comcast SportsNet in HD, starts at 7:30 PM. Tickets are $300 per person. Tables with preferred seating for 10 are $4,000 each. Regular tables of 10 are available for $3,000. To purchase tickets to the Comcast SportsNet Sports Awards, call Amanda Condon at (312) 596-4722 or visit csnsportsawards.com.

Celebrating its 21st anniversary, the Comcast SportsNet Sports Awards has raised more than $6 million for the March of Dimes over the past two decades.