Home Depot Center News

Proceeds to benefit Childrens Hospital Los Angeles and the Mia Hamm Foundation

Carson, Calif. - December 12, 2007 - Soccer star Mia Hamm and her husband, Los Angeles Dodger Nomar Garciaparra, will host a charity soccer match benefiting Childrens Hospital Los Angeles and the Mia Hamm Foundation at 1 p.m. on January 26, 2008, at The Home Depot Center in Carson, CA.

Hollywood celebrities will join current and former members of the Men's and Women's National Soccer teams in a spirited and competitive match to benefit this extraordinarily worthwhile cause. Confirmed soccer participants include: Landon Donovan, Chris Albright, Brad Guzan, Alexi Lalas, Cobi Jones, Kyle Martino, Misty May-Treanor, Kristine Lilly, Abby Wambach, Julie Foudy, Jay Mohr and Brandi Chastain.

\"Nomar and I are overwhelmed by the star-studded cast of athletes and entertainers who have signed on to participate in our charity soccer match. This event will offer fans non-stop action and entertainment while supporting the life-saving work of the Childrens Hospital Los Angeles and the Mia Hamm Foundation, two organizations that are very near and dear to our hearts\", said Mia Hamm. \"We are looking forward to sharing this special day with soccer fans at The Home Depot Center and promise there will be plenty of fun as we watch Hollywood celebrities try keep up with the best soccer players in the world.\"

At halftime, patients who were suffering from leukemia, lymphoma and other life-threatening diseases will meet in person - for the very first time - their bone marrow donors. The donor and recipient meetings will recognize all those who have given hope to patients in need of a life-saving transplant by joining the National Marrow Donor Program Registry.

General admission tickets for the Celebrity Soccer Challenge are $20 and are on sale now through Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com or 323.480.3232), or directly through The Home Depot Center Box Office. For more information, visit www.miafoundation.org/soccerchallenge. All proceeds will benefit bone marrow patient and family services at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.

About the Mia Hamm Foundation

The Mia Hamm Foundation is a non-profit organization built upon a dual mission: 1) to raise funds and awareness for bone marrow transplant patients and their families; and 2) to promote and help develop more opportunities for young women in sports.

In recent years, the Mia Hamm Foundation has organized the Garrett Game, a soccer exhibition game named after Mia's late brother, Garrett, who died in 1997 from a bone marrow disease. Donations from the Celebrity Soccer Challenge will benefit bone marrow transplant patients and their families. All proceeds from the event will benefit funds set up at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.