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24-HOUR LACROSSE EVENT BENEFITTING WOUNDED AMERICAN SOLDIERS RETURNS TO MCDONOGH SCHOOL ON JUNE 19 AND 20

BALTIMORE, MD (April 24, 2014) – The Shootout for Soldiers, a 24-hour lacrosse game benefiting wounded American military members that has raised more than $250,000 since its inception, returns to McDonogh School on June 19 and 20. Originally started by a group of high school students attending the Boys’ Latin School of Maryland, the effort has grown each year, with more than 2,000 participants and 10,500 attendees in the 2013 charitable event. Organizers are also expanding the event to Long Island, New York on July 24 and 25, representing the first expansion leg in a program anticipated to spread throughout the country.

            People interested in participating in the 2014 event can register as a team or as an individual by visiting www.ShootoutForSoldiers.com. The games are open to both male and female participants with no age restrictions. Separate categories are also available for the opening Veterans game at each location and a wheelchair lacrosse game in the Baltimore area only. The cost to participate per individual is $20.00.

            “The overwhelming response to the inaugural event both fundraising and attendance-wise encouraged our team to continue to develop the event for year two,” explained Tyler Steinhardt, the Founder and Director of Shootout for Soldiers. “With a full year to plan, organize and promote, we were able to double the number of players, elevate our fundraising by 50 percent and incorporate a number of different elements, including the addition of women’s teams.”

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            Steinhardt is taking a leave of absence from his studies at American University to concentrate his full-time efforts into expanding and developing the Shootout for Soldiers. Among the initial benefits of this was adding the Army Ranger Lead the Way Fund, Semper Fi Fund and Gary Sinise Foundation into the partnership mix. The common mission of all four organizations is to provide financial, physical and emotional support or services to individuals that have dedicated their lives to the United States military.

            “We are extremely proud that, with an all-volunteer team, Shootout for Soldiers has spent less than one percent of the total fundraising dollars on expenses to organize and produce the games,” Steinhardt explained.

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            Both the Baltimore event, held at the McDonogh School in Owings Mills, Maryland and the Long Island event, held at the Field of Dreams Park in Massapequa, New York, start at 9 am and end 24 hours later. While the game is just for fun, the score is kept continuously throughout the event between the two teams, Stars and Stripes, and in 2013, Stars won 349-336.

            For the second straight year, Major Lacrosse League (MLL) MVP Paul Rabil will be leading a game featuring a host of other MLL players at 7pm. New additions to the Baltimore event this year include a demonstration by the Army Golden Knights parachute team when the games start at 9am and the display of the Chesapeake Bayhawks MLL championship trophy throughout the day.

            “Our service members sacrifice so much for our country, and my team and I are honored to be able to give back in some way,” Steinhardt said. “We’re incredibly grateful for all of the support that the local community has shown for the event, and we’re excited to continue to expand and develop the Shootout for Soldiers.”

For additional information, check out the website at www.shootoutforsoldiers.com or contact Tyler Steinhardt at tyler.steinhardt@shootoutforsoldiers.com
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