Event Features NFL Stars Teaming Up to Support Active Force Foundation

DENVER—The Second Annual Lonie Paxton Celebrity Sporting Clays Challenge is coming to Colorado Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2011. Join Denver Broncos long-snapper Lonie Paxton and a number of his teammates and sports figures for this one-of-a-kind event at the Kiowa Creek Sporting Club in Bennett, Colo. (46700 E. County Rd. 30).

This event benefits Paxton's Active Force Foundation and its mission to provide opportunity for physically challenged individuals to engage in a healthy lifestyle through sports experience and education. Active Force Foundation provides camps for disabled athletes to experience the unique four-wheel mountain bikes they have designed and built.

"I'm excited to have an event of this kind in Colorado," Paxton said. "The people here have been terrific in supporting Active Force Foundation, and we're looking to build up our programs to reach even more disabled athletes and give them outdoor experiences they've never had before."

The 2011 Celebrity Sporting Clays Challenge is an event you don't want to miss. Participants enjoy the opportunity to test their skills on Kiowa Creek's professionally designed sporting clays course. You don't need to be an expert marksman—this event caters to all experience levels, even those who have never shot before. Lunch and dinner are provided, as well as entertainment and a special opportunity to mingle with some of Colorado's most recognizable athletes.

"Come out and enjoy a great time with my teammates and me in support of a great cause," Paxton said. If you've never shot before, don't let that stop you. There's something for everyone, and you might just like shooting clays more than you expected."

Sponsorship and ticket information is available by calling Castle Rock Media Group at 303-688-9412. There are several levels of sponsorship packages available, and they can be tailored to meet a company or organization's unique interests.

To learn more about Active Force Foundation please visit www.activeforcefoundation.org.

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ABOUT ACTIVE FORCE FOUNDATION
NFL player Lonie Paxton launched Active Force Foundation in 2003. Its mission is to implement its downhill four-wheel mountain bikes into adaptive sports camps and programs throughout the world in order to better serve the disabled sports community. Paxton is in his third year with the Denver Broncos in 2011 after playing eight years with the New England Patriots, where he won three Super Bowls.

The Draft Party Was a Success!

Plenty of stars were on hand to lend their support to Active Force Foundation on April 22 for the 2010 NFL Draft Party and Bowling Bash—AFF’s first fundraising event in Colorado.

The stars included Active Force Vice Chairman Lonie Paxton, the Denver Broncos’ long-snapper, and 15 of his teammates, headlined by All-Pro cornerback Champ Bailey, quarterbacks Kyle Orton and Brady Quinn, starting tight end Daniel Graham and run-stoppers Darrell Reid, Ronald Fields and Mario Haggan.

But the real stars of the night were heroes from the U.S. Army’s Warrior Transition Battalion at Fort Carson, Colo. A group of 54 soldiers and family members from that unit were the honored guests of Active Force Foundation, invited to share in the fun of the night and have a good time bowling and watching the draft with NFL players.

To Paxton, who played host for the night along with Board Chairman Brook Duquesnel and Directing Engineer Jason Yim, it was the perfect way to introduce the foundation to the people of Colorado while saluting some of the very folks AFF seeks to support with its four-wheel mountain bikes and unique mountain sports camps.

As the pins began to crash and the NFL Draft worked its way through the first round on the overhead TVs, anticipation mounted for the Broncos’ choice at No. 11 overall. Two trades, however, moved the Broncos to No. 13, then to No. 24, before finally jumping up to No. 22 via their third trade of the night.

While the Broncos’ pick was delayed, it only served to demonstrate what a tremendous party Active Force Foundation had put together. The bowling action heated up with each successive pick, and the competition from lane to lane grew more spirited.

Orton, who had arrived toting his own bowling ball, displayed skills on the lane that proved it wasn’t just for show, recording the night’s high score of 268. Plenty of the other Broncos joined in the fun, including offensive linemen Russ Hochstein, Chris Kuper, Tyler Polumbus, Matt McChesney and Dustin Fry; wide receiver Brandon Lloyd, kicker Matt Prater and punter A.J. Trapasso, as well as Broncos Ring of Fame linebacker Randy Gradishar.

After the long wait, the players—along with fellow party-goers—learned of not just one, but two new teammates via the Draft, as WR Demaryius Williams was chosen at No. 22 and heralded QB Tim Tebow was chosen at No. 25 in a pick acquired via another trade, just as the party was beginning to wind down. The timing was perfect, and provided an appropriate crescendo for an outstanding night of fundraising and fun for all in attendance.

Guests and sponsors raved about the accessibility and graciousness of the players, who mixed and mingled among the crowd and signed autographs throughout the night. While that was one important goal of AFF, the other was making sure the soldiers enjoyed themselves and were able to meet the players and have a good time, taking them temporarily away from the challenges they face from wounds suffered in Iraq and Afghanistan.

It was also an honor to have on hand members of the Paralympic Sports Team from world-renowned Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colo., an event sponsor.

The smiles on their faces, and on those of all the guests, exemplified the mission of Active Force Foundation—a mission that has become even more focused since Paxton’s free-agent signing in Denver in March 2009.

Lonie, Brook and Jason have put in countless hours and devoted a tremendous amount of personal resources since starting the Foundation in 2003. All indications are that the base they’ve built is truly beginning to grow into a powerful force in Colorado.

Several elements have come together to really harness the strength of AFF’s mission now, including the abundant mountain terrain available in the Rocky Mountain region for their four-wheel mountain bikes, and the large military presence in the state. AFF continues to create programs and camps for disabled athletes and wounded soldiers, and Colorado provides an incredible home to build the kind of support and sustainability that will ultimately help Active Force Foundation have a positive impact throughout the country and perhaps the world.

After an incredible public debut in Colorado, AFF is poised to expand its reach through newfound partnerships in the community and the continued hard work of Lonie, Brook and Jason. By all measures, this event was a perfect strike.

Special thanks also goes out to the fine folks at Brunswick Zone for providing a terrific home for the party and helping with every need we encountered throughout the planning and execution of the event.