|
Flanagan’s commitment helps grow the sport in underserved communities around Charlotte |
| BOSTON (Feb. 27, 2014) – Major League Lacrosse, the premier professional outdoor lacrosse league, announced today that the first recipient of the HEADstrong Humantiarian of the Month award is Charlotte Hounds defenseman Ryan Flanagan.
The HEADstrong Foundation and MLL entered into a partnership in January to help raise awareness about blood cancers to the extended lacrosse community and its fans.
As part of the partnership HEADstrong and MLL wanted to recognize members of the MLL who distinguish themselves in their community outreach with the HEADstrong Humanitarian of the Month award
Flanagan earned the Humanitarian of the Month honor for his staunch commitment to community work.
With his Team 24/7 program, Flanagan has contributed greatly to the growth of the sport by taking it to urban areas and underserved communities.
“Ryan is devoted to youth lacrosse so much so that I truly believe he would rather be on the field working with kids than on the beach relaxing,” said Charlotte Hounds President and Managing Partner Jim McPhilliamy. “He really loves being out there teaching lacrosse. His passion for the game and teaching it has really helped grow the sport of lacrosse here in Charlotte.”
Just like Nick Colleluori did when he founded the HEADstrong Foundation, Flanagan has encompassed selfless core values by going above and beyond to help others. He cites his leadership formation at UNC as one of the key factors in becoming a positive role model in the community.
“When I was graduating, one of the things that was important to me was where I could play lacrosse and be involved in the community,” Flanagan said. “I wanted to get to know the kids and the fans and the families and wanted to be a part of it. I wanted to be somewhere where I could be involved in [working with kids]; again, going back to the idea of how they give you such a good perspective. They keep it fun, keep it interesting and you build relationships with every kid you meet.”
With the Hounds, Flanagan sought out a way to give back even more. Together with the Hounds Foundation, the club’s charitable arm, he started Flanagan’s Friends, a program that gives underprivileged families the opportunity to enjoy a Hounds game.
The 24-year-old will be entering his third year in the league in 2014, all of which have come in Charlotte. |
| About HEADstrong FoundationThe HEADstrong Foundation™ is a 501(c)(3) committed to being a resource for blood cancer patients and their families, helping them to navigate the harrowing ordeal of cancer by providing essential services to improve quality of life.
HEADstrong™ is an athletic rooted organization that serves the cancer community by granting direct financial assistance to those financially impacted as a result of the disease, by providing complimentary long-term housing and amenities for those traveling to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for cancer related treatments through Nick’s House™, by funding innovative blood cancer research through the Nicholas E. Colleluori Lymphoma research fund, by serving family meals and offering outlets of entertainment for those receiving care at hospitals, by delivering comfort kits to newly hospitalized patients preparing for treatment or transplant and by lending an arm of support through their peer to peer advocacy group. The blueprints for the Foundation were conceptualized by Nicholas “HEAD” Colleluori in 2006, while he underwent treatment for non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, which ultimately claimed his life. Today, Nick’s vision is being fulfilled through the relentless efforts of his family, athletes and supporters across the country uniting in the fight against blood cancers. For more information on the HEADstrong Foundation™ please visit to www.HEADstrong.org.
About Major League Lacrosse Major League Lacrosse (MLL), the premier professional outdoor lacrosse League, was founded by Jake Steinfeld and is headquartered in Boston. Major League Lacrosse commenced play in June 2001 and will embark on its fourteenth season. MLL has continued to lead the sport of lacrosse into the mainstream of competitive team sports. The league is made up of eight teams: The Boston Cannons, Charlotte Hounds, Chesapeake Bayhawks, Denver Outlaws, Florida Launch, New York Lizards, Ohio Machine and Rochester Rattlers. More information about the league can be found at www.majorleaguelacrosse.com
The MLL’s fourteenth season of will commence the weekend of April 26.
The 2014 MLL All-Star Game will be held at Harvard Stadium on June 26. Tickets for the event are on sale now by visiting Ticketmaster or by calling the Boston Cannons office at 617-746-9933.
The 2014 Championship Game will be held at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw, Ga., onSaturday, August 23 and tickets can be obtained by clicking HERE |
