DETROIT --- The Detroit Local Organizing Committee (DLOC) for the 2009 NCAA® Men’s Final Four® today announced a legacy gift of $250,000 from the NCAA to help children in Southeastern Michigan enter school ready to learn by improving the quality of early care and education for pre-school age children throughout the region.

The gift is the first legacy program to be associated with the NCAA Men’s Final Four. The DLOC presented the gift to United Way for Southeastern Michigan to support United Way’s Early Learning Communities (ELC). The Early Learning Communities is a pilot program created to enhance school readiness for pre-school age children by providing training and resources for children and their caregivers at neighborhood-based centers.

“We are excited that the NCAA acknowledges the connection between early childhood and higher education by supporting these efforts in Detroit through this first-ever Final Four legacy initiative,” said Bill Ryan, executive director, Detroit Local Organizing Committee. “We hope this serves as a pilot for other Final Four host cities to put in place similar permanent reminders of the tournament for their communities.”

The Early Learning Communities are designed to enhance school readiness for pre-school age children through regional centers and neighborhood hubs throughout the Detroit area. These centers will focus on promoting early literacy; provide resources to family, friends and neighbors who care for young children; and encourage child development through training and access to literary materials and resources.

The first Detroit Early Learning Community will open in March at the Shurly Family Learning Center in Detroit’s Brightmoor neighborhood. The second of these centers will also open this month at Southwest Solutions in southwest Detroit. The group’s goal is to open two additional centers in the city’s Osborn (northwest) and North End (central) neighborhoods in 2010.

“This program is evidence of the power of teamwork as the Detroit Local Organizing Committee, United Way, NCAA, civic leaders and community partners have joined together to provide the city of Detroit with a lasting gift of literacy,” said Michael Brennan, president and CEO of United Way for Southeastern Michigan.

“The NCAA is pleased to collaborate with the Detroit Local Organizing Committee, the United Way and community leaders to leave a footprint and legacy behind in Detroit,” said Greg Shaheen, NCAA vice president for Division I Men’s Basketball Championship. “Literacy and education by nature are very important to the NCAA. We hope our participation in this initiative will make a positive difference for the families and children of Detroit.”

It is anticipated the four neighborhood hubs will train 525 caregivers in early literacy development, impacting 2,100 children and creating a culture of reading and learning that begins at birth.

“The Detroit Local Organizing Committee is extremely proud to work with the NCAA, the United Way and local community leaders to initiate this legacy gift of the Early Learning Communities,” said Rick Wagoner, chair DLOC Executive Committee, GM chairman and CEO. “Not only will these NCAA community hubs strengthen neighborhood support for education, they will get children excited about reading and better prepare them for school.”

Former Michigan State University All-American Gregory Kelser will serve as official spokesperson and mentor for the Legacy program. Kelser attended school at Detroit’s Henry Ford H.S. where he was an All-State basketball player before joining Michigan State University as part of MSU’s 1979 NCAA® National Championship team. Kelser was named an Academic All-American in his senior year, and is currently an announcer with FSN Detroit.

“I am very pleased to be a part of this NCAA® and United Way for Southeastern Michigan legacy initiative that will support the critical need of early childhood development in Detroit,” said Kelser. “As a proud Detroiter, the opportunity to provide parents and guardians with resources to help their children is perfectly aligned with my personal and professional values, and it’s really great to be a part of the NCAA’s lasting local impact from the 2009 Men’s Final Four®.”

The neighborhood hubs will train caregivers in early childhood development, and provide mentoring opportunities for each family, friend and neighbor. They will also feature community events and outreach, a rewards program for regular participants, and a lending library of children’s books.

Members of the Detroit community and Final Four fans may contribute to this lending library through several book drives throughout Final Four week. Fans may bring pre- and early reader books to Final Four Friday® at Ford Field, Hoop City® at Cobo Center, and the Big Dance® on the Detroit Riverfront.

About the NCAA®

The NCAA® is a membership-led nonprofit association of colleges and universities committed to supporting academic and athletic opportunities for more than 400,000 student-athletes at more than 1,000 member colleges and universities. Each year, more than 54,000 student-athletes compete in NCAA championships in Divisions I, II and III sports. Visit www.ncaa.org and www.ncaa.com for more details about the Association, its goals and members and corporate partnerships that help support programs for student-athletes. The NCAA is proud to have the following elite companies as official Corporate Champions—AT&T, Coca-Cola and Pontiac—and the following elite companies as official Corporate Partners—Enterprise, The Hartford, Hershey’s, Lowe’s, Sheraton and State Farm.

About the 2009 NCAA® Men’s Basketball Championship

The 2009 NCAA® Men’s Basketball Championship will take place at Ford Field in Detroit from April 4-6. The tournament brings together the semifinalists of the single elimination tournament of the top 65 NCAA® Division I Men’s Basketball teams in the country. The event is expected to create an economic impact of $30 million to $50 million and attract more than 30,000 visitors to Detroit. For information, visit www.ncaa.com/finalfour or call the Detroit Local Organizing committee at 313/262- 2900.

NCAA and Final Four are trademarks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association

# # # Source: Detroit Local Organizing Committee

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