BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MARICOPA COUNTY

DON ONORATO ALLEGHENY COUNTY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 4, 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

Organizations in Both Allegheny & Maricopa Counties to Benefit from Wager

PITTSBURGH & PHOENIX — Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato and Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chairman Max Wilson today announced that non-profit organizations in both counties will benefit from their friendly wager on the outcome of Super Bowl XLIII. While the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Arizona Cardinals in a hard-fought game, all wagered items will be donated by both counties.

“While the Steelers brought home an unprecedented sixth Lombardi trophy, we wanted to send our wagered items to the people of Maricopa County in honor of the greatest Super Bowl in history,” said Onorato. “We’re grateful to the generous Allegheny County businesses that have agreed to donate these items even though the Steelers were victorious.”

On behalf of Allegheny County, Onorato will send:

• $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.

“While we in Maricopa County were disappointed in the outcome of the game, we are pleased with both the performances of these two great teams, and we are encouraged by the generosity of the donors in both Pittsburgh and Phoenix,” said Wilson. “The food will be going to those in most need at the Maricopa County Human Services Campus, and the sporting equipment and print will go to a great new facility, the Jerry Colangelo Boys & Girls Club in Phoenix.”

On behalf of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, Wilson will send:

• $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.

Onorato will give the golf equipment and photograph to the First Tee of Pittsburgh at the Allegheny County Housing Authority’s Pleasant Ridge community in Stowe Township. The food items will be given to Rainbow Kitchen Community Services, a non-profit human service agency based in Homestead that focuses on helping individuals and families in the Steel Valley.

FedEx Ground, headquartered in Pittsburgh, will provide free shipping of the wagered items to both Allegheny and Maricopa counties.

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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The First Tee of Pittsburgh is one chapter that makes up the World Golf Foundation’s nationwide initiative dedicated to influencing the lives of young people through teaching golf and the life lessons it imparts. The First Tee of Pittsburgh uses golf as a platform for teaching kids valuable life skills that help them in all segments of their lives. For additional information, visit www.thefirstteepittsburgh.org.

Rainbow Kitchen Community Services was founded in 1984 in response to the impact of the closing of area steel mills, which displaced thousands of workers living in the Steel Valley. Since its inception, Rainbow Kitchen has focused on helping individuals and families to cope with inadequate incomes by addressing their immediate needs, offering guidance and support in times of crisis, and providing the basic stepping stones needed to work toward self-sufficiency. For additional information, visit www.rainbowkitchen.org.