University of Maine, Augusta Men’s and Women’s Basketball Draft Brother and Sister Through Team IMPACT

**PHOTO/B-ROLL OPPORTUNITY**

University of Maine, Augusta Men’s and Women’s Basketball Draft Brother and Sister Through Team IMPACT

WHAT: On Thursday, August 31 the University of Maine Augusta and Team IMPACT will hold an official Draft Day press conference for ten-year-old Carter Blanche and six-year-old Emma Blanche of Maine, who have Cystic Fibrosis, a progressive, genetic disease that causes persistent lung infection and limits the ability to breathe over time.

Team IMPACT, a nonprofit based in Boston, was founded by Tufts University alums and student athletes, Jay Calnan, Dan Kraft, Dan Walsh, Kris Herman and Robert Tishman. The program’s mission is to improve the quality of life for children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses through the power of team. Through the organization, Maddox will become a member of the UConn Men’s Soccer team, attending practices, games, team dinners, events and more.

Since its inception in 2011, Team IMPACT has matched 1,200+ children to more than 450 colleges and universities in 46 states, reaching over 35,000 participating college athletes. The child gains great strength, camaraderie and support and the student athletes are taught lessons about courage, resiliency and life perspective they can’t learn in a classroom.

Team IMPACT has a waitlist of more than 1,000 teams—waiting to be matched with children, ages 5-15, who have been diagnosed with a life-threatening or chronic illness and who could benefit from becoming a member of the team. If you know a child who may be interested, visit www.goteamimpact.org for more information.

Highlights:

- Emma and Carter signing their National Letters of Intent

- Remarks by Head Women’s Basketball Coach and Athletic Director Jennifer Laney

- The Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams will draft Emma and Carter in front of

entire athletic department.

WHEN: Thursday, August 31, 2017

5:45pm (suggested arrival 5:30pm)

WHERE: University of Main Augusta

Randall Student Center, Fire Place Lounge

46 University Drive, Augusta, Maine 04330

On-Site TI CONTACT: John Henry

jonathan.henry@maine.edy

Team IMPACT Marketing: Mary Callaghan

Director of Marketing & Communications

401-580-5370

mcallaghan@goteamimpact.org

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Team IMPACT is a national 501(c)3 nonprofit headquartered in Boston whose mission is to improve the quality of life for children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses through the power of team. Team IMPACT children are drafted onto college athletic teams for a two-year program, and are a part of the team from Draft Day through to Graduation. The child joins the athletic team and the student athletes join the child’s support team. The child gains great strength, camaraderie and support and the student athletes are taught lessons about courage, resiliency and life perspective that they can’t learn in a classroom. Learn more at www.goteamimpact.org.