FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 29, 2009

Contacts:

Kevin Evanto (Allegheny) 412-350-3171 office 412-352-4075 cell Richard de Uriarte (Maricopa) 602-506-7232 office 602-578-9700 cell

Allegheny County and Maricopa County Wager on Super Bowl XLIII

PITTSBURGH & PHOENIX — Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato and Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chairman Max Wilson today made a friendly wager on the outcome of Super Bowl XLIII between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals.

On behalf of Allegheny County, Onorato is wagering:

• $1,500 of Dick’s Sporting Goods merchandise donated by the Pittsburgh-based company for the Boys & Girls Club of Maricopa County;
• A framed print donated by the Andy Warhol Museum, one of the four Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh;
• A case of Italian sausage courtesy of Ricci’s Italian Sausage of McKees Rocks – named the best homemade sausage in Western Pennsylvania by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette;
• Five dozen Steelers Smiley Cookies from Eat’n Park; and
• Heart & Soul Healthy Lemonade from Heart & Soul Foods Inc. of Gibsonia.

On behalf of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, Wilson is wagering:

• $1,050 of PING golf products custom made in Maricopa County since 1959 by the Phoenix-based, family-owned company that revolutionized the game of golf. The items will be donated to First Tee of Pittsburgh at Pleasant Ridge in Stowe Township in partnership with Allegheny County Housing Authority;
• An official framed photograph titled “The Stronghold” by Arizona photographer David MacDougal that graced the cover of the historic Arizona Highways magazine;
• Four dozen tamales courtesy of Mary Rose Wilcox, Maricopa County Supervisor and owner of the award-winning El Portal Mexican Restaurant; and
• Four dozen homemade tortillas and four pounds of homemade chorizo from Carolina’s Mexican Restaurant, named one of Phoenix’s best restaurants by Phoenix Magazine.

FedEx Ground, headquartered in Pittsburgh, will provide free shipping of the wagered items, regardless of which team wins.

“We have a lot of first-class organizations in Maricopa County, like the Arizona Cardinals and PING,” commented Wilson. “We are proud that PING and other local businesses are donating as part of this friendly wager on the Super Bowl. As an example of the sportsmanship of the Cardinals and the hospitality of all Arizonans, our donations will be made even when the Cardinals win. Because that’s the way we do it out here in the West.”

In a presentation Wednesday at the Board of Supervisors meeting, the board declared Friday, Jan. 30 as “Arizona Cardinals Day in Maricopa County.” In the attached photo, from left to right, are Supervisors Don Stapley, Fulton Brock, Max Wilson, Cardinals officials Steve Ryan and Luis Zendejas, and Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox.

Photo, from left to right, are Supervisors Don Stapley, Fulton Brock, Max Wilson, Cardinals officials Steve Ryan and Luis Zendejas, and Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox

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Maricopa County was founded February 14, 1871. It is located in Southwestern Arizona and encompasses 9,226 square miles, of which 1,441 square miles are incorporated (15.6 percent) and 7,785 square miles are unincorporated (84.4 percent). It is the fifth largest of Arizona’s 15 counties, and the 14th largest county in the United States. Maricopa County is larger than five states and the District of Columbia. Twenty-four cities and towns are located within Maricopa County’s outer boundaries. Maricopa County has a population of more than 3.2 million people. It is the fourth most populous county in the nation and home to more people than 21 states and the District of Columbia. For additional information, visit www.maricopa.gov.

Allegheny County was founded September 24, 1788. It is located in Southwestern Pennsylvania and encompasses approximately 745 square miles. It is made up of four cities, including the City of Pittsburgh, 85 boroughs, 41 townships and 43 public school districts. Allegheny County’s population of approximately 1.3 million makes it the second most populous county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the 28th most populous county in the United States. For additional information, visit www.alleghenycounty.us.