BOSTON – March 18, 2004 – In just the past five months, Boston sports fans have enjoyed a wild ride from the brink of the World Series to another Super Bowl championship. Today, Junior Achievement, a leader in educating students on business, economics and free enterprise, hopes to capitalize on younger fans passion for sports by launching a new program that highlights career opportunities in the sports business world.
JA, along with Comcast, Fox Sports Net (FSN), the New England Patriots/New England Revolution, and Massachusetts state legislators including Senate President Robert E. Travaligni and Massachusetts State Treasurer Timothy B. Cahill will host a special State House event on Thursday, March 18th, to launch the Professional Achievement Spotlighting Sports (PASS) program. PASS is aimed at utilizing the sports and entertainment industries to highlight career opportunities for students. The event begins at 11:00 a.m. in the State House Hall of Flags.
"Our mission is to make students realize that even though they can't be a star athlete, it doesn't mean they can't be part of the game," said JA Eastern Massachusetts President Bill Annino. "As Comcast, Fox Sports Net, the Patriots and the Revolution can attest, it is an exciting time to work in the business of sports. The industry continues to grow rapidly and create new career opportunities."
To date, 1,000 students at 23 schools and after school programs in 18 cities and towns have signed up for the PASS program, which includes four, one hour sessions that culminate with a guest executive speaker from a regional business.
"Junior Achievement has a long and proud history of inspiring our school children to realize their future potential in the Commonwealth's business community," said Senate President Robert E. Travaglini. "With such enthusiastic support from its corporate sponsors, the PASS program promises to prime the workforce pipeline in growing the sports industry. These are the kind of initiatives that will help strengthen the state's economy."
"We're pleased to support the PASS program," said Kevin Casey, regional senior vice president of Comcast. "We know that Junior Achievement delivers results for students and their schools. As New England's leading entertainment company, we're thrilled to be a part of this initiative. Comcast values education and youth development opportunities. We wish the program participants the best in their academic pursuits and in life."
"PASS will teach kids that a career in the sports industry is not out of reach for anyone who is passionate about sports," said David Woodman, senior vice president and general manager of Fox Sports Net. "Four of our network personalities – Gary Tanguay, Greg Dickerson, Willie Maye and Mike Gorman – are native New Englanders who have proven that there is more than one way to be part of the action."
About Junior Achievement
Junior Achievement is the world's largest and fastest-growing organization dedicated to educating young people about business, economics and free enterprise. Through age-appropriate curricula, JA programs begin at the elementary school level, teaching children how they can make an impact on the world around them as individuals, workers and consumers. JA programs continue through the middle and high school grades, preparing students for economic and workforce issues they will face in the future. Today, JA reaches more than four million students through 150 offices nationwide and another two million students in more than 100 countries worldwide. For more information visit
About Comcast Cable
Headquartered in Philadelphia, Comcast Cable is a division of Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSK; CMCSA), a developer, manager and operator of broadband cable networks and provider of programming content. Operating in 17 of the United States' 20 largest metropolitan areas, Comcast is one of the leading communications, media and entertainment companies in the world. Providing basic cable, Digital Cable, high-speed Internet and telephone services, Comcast is the company to look to first for the communications products and services that connect people to what's important in their lives. The company's 55,000 employees, in six divisions, serve more than 21 million customers.
About New England Patriots Charitable Foundation
The New England Patriots Charitable Foundation is the vehicle through which the New England Patriots and the New England Revolution make donations to charitable and philanthropic organizations throughout New England. These contributions come in the form of direct grants and donations of tickets and auction items to a wide variety of recognized charitable organizations. The foundation was established by Robert Kraft in 1994 and underscores the family's deep commitment to charitable activities in the area. Its primary goal is to support the youth and families of the New England region by assisting programs that foster cultural diversity, education, family and
health.
About Fox Sports Net New England
Fox Sports Net New England reaches more than 3.7 million households in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. Fox Sports Net New England is owned and operated by Rainbow Sports Networks, a division of Cablevision's Rainbow Media Holdings LLC Fox Sports Net New England's programming includes Boston Celtics, Boston University Hockey, New England Revolution, New England Sports Tonight, The Best Damn Sports Show Period and NASCAR.