Leaders and Legends Event Raises Funds for ARF

Sports stars will soon team up to raise funds for a paws cause at Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation’s second annual Leaders & Legends event— a weekend filled with dogged devotion for baseball, football, volleyball, soccer and swimming.

Taking place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas from November 21st – 24, 2013, the following athletes will knock it out of the ballpark as they discuss their love of sports in an interactive forum and round table discussion:

• Dick Butkus– member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
• Julie Foudy– retired professional soccer player
• Marques Haynes– retired from the Harlem Globetrotters
• Bob Knight– retire basketball coach (Indiana Hoosiers, Texas Tech, Army)
• Bob Ladouceur– retired football coach
• Meadowlark Lemon– retired member of the Harlem Globetrotters
• Ronnie Lott– retired NFL player, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee in 2000
• Albert Pujols– first baseman for the Los Angeles Angels if Anaheim
• Oscar Robertson– retired NBA player, Cincinnati Royals and Milwaukee Bucks
• Barry Switzer– retired coach of the Dallas Cowboys
• Jim Thome– retired MLB player
• Dara Torres– Olympic gold medalist in swimming
• Kerri Walsh-Jennings– Olympic gold medalist in volleyball
• Jerry West– retired NBA player, Los Angeles Lakers

Other Leaders & Legends participants include Medal of Honor recipient Major Bruce Crandall, ex-Blue Angel pilot/motivational speaker John Foley, President and CEO of Starbucks, Howard Schultz and Executive Vice President for MLB operations, Joe Torre.

Covering all the bases when it comes to entertainment, the event will also include a private welcome reception, a gala dinner with live performances and the chance for attendees to tap their feet to the beat of Michael Buble’s tunes during a concert by the Grammy Award winner.

Scoring a home run in the hearts of animal lovers, all of the proceeds from the four-day sports-themed getaway will benefit Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF), which was founded by the baseball icon and his wife Elaine in 1991 to save Fidos and felines who are facing their fate in public shelters; help animal protection and human service organizations across the country and establish educational programs to promote compassion toward both people and pets.

For more information regarding ARF:

• visit www.arf.net

Photo Credit: Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF)