Pro Football Players Alumni Association Launches in Dallas with President’s Day Luncheon

Dallas, Texas- (February 12, 2007)-

It is always heartwarming to hear from storied Hall of Fame Players on the Superbowl broadcasts or watch them visit sick children in the hospital or build homes for the poor.

What you don’t see are the days when retired, career NFL players face orthopedic problems so severe that they can not lay down to sleep or the players who have brain stem injuries, Alzheimer’s, depression, or alcohol and substance abuse because they deal every day with severe physical and mental pain from playing the game that they and America love.

Others are disabled to the point that they cannot work, nor can they afford the increasing costs of medical care and monthly prescriptions for minimal pain management.

In the worst cases, they end up unemployed, homeless or commit suicide.

Most people do not know what professional football players face when they leave the playing field with these permanent injuries. They receive no health insurance when they retire, and most have serious lingering physical, mental and financial problems the rest of their lives. Still others lose their dignity from not being able to take care of themselves mentally and physically due to lack of resources, little to no pensions, and inadequate access to affordable insurance. Many have limited education or community resources upon which they can rely upon retirement from America’s most popular game.

There is both heightened awareness and a noticeable increased resolve to help those who need assistance. Former Chicago Bears Coach Mike Ditka, ESPN anchors, and FOX’s Howie Long, and other alumni are increasingly speaking out on this issue of the quality of life and health of older NFL players, the concussions and costly critical care for aftereffects of a long NFL career that include heart disease and stroke, orthopedic problems, cognitive impairment, substance abuse, and mental illness. These efforts have encouraged concerned former and current players, as well as interested and compassionate fans, to develop an organization to address solutions to problems, which ironically affect those who have created, built, and sustained a multi-billion dollar business.

The mission of the Pro Football Players Alumni Association is to provide solutions, benefits and services to all former professional football players in response to the physical, mental, and financial needs of these retired players. The initial emphasis will focus on the health issues of the alumni of the National Football League.

At the luncheon, experts, athletes, and medical professionals will share information on obtaining adequate insurance and ongoing research for players needs for general medical monitoring and care. The Pro Football Players Alumni Association Kickoff Luncheon will be held on President’s Day, Monday, February 19, 2007, at Noon at Carina’s Restaurant (2900 McKinney Avenue, formerly America’s) in Dallas’ Uptown District.

Most players have serious issues after the age of 45 and even one of the operations that their disabilities from old injuries might require would bankrupt them. The average age expectancy of an NFL player is 54. Some face life-threatening debilitating effects, such as brain injury and orthopedic problems like arthritis as soon as they retire from the violent hits and concussions received as a player.

In a February 2, 2007, article published in The New York Times by Alan Schwarz, retired, 34-year-old, 3-time Super bowl winning New England Patriots middle linebacker Ted Johnson is already suffering from cognitive impairment, depression, and addiction to pain medication he started taking before retirement to relieve symptoms from repeated concussions. His physician, Dr. Robert Cantu, the chief of neurosurgery and director of sports medicine at Emerson Hospital in Concord, Massachusetts, said, “Ted already shows the mild cognitive impairment that is characteristic of early Alzheimer’s disease. It could be that at the time he is in his 50s, he could have severe Alzheimer’s symptoms.”

Heart disease and stroke prevention is a primary concern. Reggie White died of heart problems at 43, three years ago, and the San Francisco 49ers Thomas Herrion, of Fort Worth, died of an enlarged and blocked heart last year at 23. Cardiologist Dr. Jeffrey Boone said, "The most critical work in Preventive Cardiology occurs long before you feel chest pain or shortness of breath. We need first, to find the heart and blood vessel disease early before symptoms occur, second, to determine the causation and vulnerability of the disease, and third, to stabilize and eradicate the disease."

Additionally, the mindset of the NFL continues to be that bigger is better. One-fifth of 130 so-called larger players born since 1955 died of heart disease and more than half were so overweight that they were declared morbidly obese, a serious medical condition. The super-size or 300-plus pound players are twice as likely to die before the age of 50. Today, there are more than 500, 300-pound players on current NFL rosters. Heart disease and stroke prevention will continue to be an issue needing attention and research.

While many NFL team’s alumni associations, players, and coaches are organizing fundraising, petitions and other awareness measures, a passionate football fan, social advocate and board member of Philanthropy Magazine, Belita Nelson is launching the Pro Football Players Alumni Association (PFPAA) in Dallas and Denver as a solution-based organization to better serve the mental and physical health needs of the great career-NFL players.

While working on plans to create a new company, Belita created the concept of the PFPAA as a charity to work hand-in-hand with the venture. It evolved out of her shared love of her lifetime heroes; not only the Denver Broncos but also all NFL alumni. This idea, created by fans to support their heroes, is unique. “We believe this perspective combined with the structure of our organization, will provide a much needed resource for pro football alumni to have a voice and a vote in matters related to their health care and their future,” said Nelson.

The PFPAA’s Founding Board includes former Hall of Fame corner Mel Renfro and former Cowboy and Bronco great Wade Manning along with Belita Nelson, now its director, Cary Clayborn, principal of Bernstein Global Wealth Management, Gary Anderson, CEO of Arctic Waves, Ken Johnson, CEO of Kicks Coffee Café and former sports anchor, now CEO of Murray Media, Scott Murray. Those who have also stepped up as partners and luncheon sponsors include Hall of Fame Mortgage led by Randal McClanahan and Hall of Fame running back Tony Dorsett and Hall of Fame corner Mel Renfro.

“We are extremely excited to be the mortgage sponsor for the PFPAA. It is hard to imagine a fit that is better for both organizations. With former Dallas Cowboy greats and Pro Football Hall of Fame members Tony Dorsett and Mel Renfro being founding partners along with Rayfield Wright helping with business development, who better to help raise funds.

For every member or person referred through the PFPAA, Hall of Fame Mortgage will donate $250 to make more care available to the players that have made pro football what it is today. We are looking forward to continuing to help grow this worthwhile charity with tremendous enthusiasm,” said McClanahan. Some metroplex real estate agencies doing business with Hall of Fame have already agreed to match the donation on each home loan they bring to the table.

The luncheon will be emceed by Scott Murray and feature keynote speaker and former NFL player Wade Manning will give a first hand account of the need for providing assistance and will be joined by Mel Renfro. Information will be made available of how you or your business can become a member of the PFPAA and how you can support these players who made the game what it is today. For sponsorship information, please contact Belita Nelson at 972-713-1240.

The Professional Football Players Alumni Association (PFPAA) is a 501(c)(3) qualified non-profit organization dedicated to helping retired professional football players. The support is comprehensive in that it does not focus entirely on the physical challenges facing these alumni players but in all areas where they need assistance.

Visit the website for contact information:
http://www.pfpaa.org