Former Olympian Marion Jones to speak at UNC Asheville

Here’s the press release from UNC Asheville:

Luncheon held to raise scholarships while celebrating achievements of women and the 40th Anniversary of Title IX.

ASHEVILLE, N.C. -Former Olympian and WNBA player Marion Jones will tell her story of Olympic glory and subsequent personal redemption on Tuesday, April 9th at UNC Asheville’s Wilma Sherrill Center. Jones will be the keynote speaker at the Our Turn to Play Luncheon presented by Wells Fargo from 11:30-1p.m. in the Sherrill Center.

The luncheon’s primary goal is to raise scholarship funds for UNC Asheville’s student athletes. The event will honor women as champions and leaders, as well as celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Title IX, the groundbreaking legislation that prohibited discrimination in education and athletics. WLOS TV-13’s Tammy Watford will be the emcee.

Seating is available by purchasing a table or individual ticket to the luncheon. Corporate and Group Tables offer seating for six, and there will be a UNC Asheville coach or student athlete at each table. Corporate tables are $600 and include advertising in the event program, on-table, and on the Kimmel Arena video boards. Group Tables without advertising are $400. Individual tickets are $75.

For questions regarding the event or to purchase seating, contact Aaron Sanders, Director of Athletics Annual Giving at 828-250-3858 or asanders@unca.edu. You can purchase online at www.uncabulldogs.com/tickets.

WHO: Marion Jones

WHAT: Our Turn to Play Luncheon presented by Wells Fargo

WHERE: UNC Asheville-Sherrill Center, 227 Campus Drive, Asheville, NC 28804

WHEN: Tuesday, April 9th, 2013 11:30a.m. – 1p.m.

Media Contact: Mike Gore, Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs, 828-251-6923, mgore@unca.edu.

About UNC Asheville Bulldog Athletics

UNC Asheville is the dedicated Liberal Arts University in the UNC system. 189 student athletes compete in 15 sports in the Big South Conference and CCSA at the NCAA Division I level. As a North Carolina public university, UNC Asheville Athletics does not receive state funds and must rely on private giving, corporate partnerships, and ticket sales to fund scholarships for deserving students. The department’s mission is to help develop Champions in Athletics and Leaders in Life. To learn more about the Bulldogs, visit www.uncabulldogs.com.

About Marion Jones

Marion Jones is a 1998 Graduate of the University of North Carolina, where she led the Tar Heels to the 1994 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship. She was a two-time gold medalist at the 1997 World Championships and won three Gold and two Bronze Medals at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.

In 2007, Marion admitted to lying to federal investigators regarding her use of performance-enhancing drugs. She was sentenced to six months in federal prison for her confession, and she voluntarily returned her five Olympic medals and publicly apologized. She has committed her life since her release to inspiring others who face life-challenging situations through public speaking and as an author.

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About Jake Frankel
Jake Frankel is an award-winning journalist who enjoys covering a wide range of topics, from politics and government to business, education and entertainment.

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