80 players, four teams, one great cause - The MLSE Team Up Foundation One4One event

Real Sports Bar & Grill to host historic gathering of athletes

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TORONTO, March 24 /PRNewswire/ - Close to 100 professional athletes and coaches will team up on Monday for the inaugural One4One, presented by Rogers in support of the Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) Team Up Foundation. The night will mark the first time that NHL, NBA, MLS and AHL teams will come together on one night. Guests will have the chance to mingle with the full rosters of the Maple Leafs, Raptors, Toronto FC and Marlies at Real Sports Bar & Grill, with all proceeds benefiting the MLSE Team Up Foundation. 

"Our goal with the One4One Event is to celebrate the important work of the MLSE Team Up Foundation through a unique fan experience," said Tom Anselmi, executive vice-president and chief operating officer, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. "This city has never seen so many of its professional athletes come together for a meaningful cause. We hope that this is just the first of many events of its kind for our Foundation."

More than 600 party attendees will have the chance to bid on dozens of unique silent auction items, including a trip to the 2012 NHL All-Star Game, Alumni dinners and autographed game-worn gear.

"The MLSE Team Up Foundation has an ambitious mandate and each year, through rink, court and pitch builds and refurbishments, we strive to make as great an impact in the community as possible," said MLSE Team Up Foundation Chair, Bruce Kidd. "These community building efforts have costs associated with them and hopefully the funds raised will allow us to make an even greater impact next year."

The celebration caps off a busy two weeks of events by the MLSE Team Up Foundation featuring a range of community building activities including the unveiling of rink and court refurbishments, an open practice and five free public skates across the city.

Festivities kicked-off on Monday when Hockey Hall of Famer Angela James and Leafs Alumni Wendel Clark, Mike Gartner and Dick Duff were on hand to celebrate the MLSE Team Up Foundation's 25th refurbishment at the Angela James Arena. The MLSE Team Up Foundation enhanced the City of Toronto's investment in the arena with a $250,000 donation to replace the dasher boards, provide new skate matting, create a women's dressing room and upgrade the current dressing rooms.

Refurbishments at two other sites were also unveiled during the One4One Event build up. On Thursday, March 17 the MLSE Team Up Foundation celebrated a new FIBA regulated hardwood centre court at Variety Village. The $120,000 investment will provide the Canadian National and Provincial wheelchair basketball teams a place to train and inspire the Village's grassroots program. Raptors players and members of the National Wheelchair basketball team facilitated skills clinics for Variety Village's youth teams.

The Toronto Marlies held a Community Practice at Burnhamthorpe Community Centre Rink March 21 to celebrate the announcement of the Team Up Foundation's $25,000 investment in the facility. The event featured a Marlies practice followed by a full-team autograph session as well as entertainment and activities for kids.

This season, the MLSE Team Up Foundation will invest over $800,000 in local communities by refurbishing sports and recreational facilities. Projects currently in the works include the refurbishment of St. James Town's outdoor community court, Glen Long outdoor rink and Sorauren Park soccer pitch.

Over the past four years, MLSE and the MLSE Team Up Foundation have invested and contributed to 25 city-owned facility refurbishments. In addition to the four rinks that played host to open skates, facilities at Ramsden Park, Oriole Community Centre, High Park's Outdoor Rink, Rennie Park in Swansea, The West Mall Rink in Etobicoke and five parks in Riverdale have also benefitted from upgrades. For more information, visit www.mlseteamupfoundation.org or www.mlse.com. 

The MLSE Team Up Foundation is the charitable arm of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), combining the philanthropic efforts of all four MLSE-owned teams - the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors, Toronto FC and Toronto Marlies.  Launched in December 2009 and building on the past successes of the Raptors Foundation for Kids and the Leafs Fund for Kids, the MLSE Team Up Foundation is committed to making an even bigger difference for youth across Ontario. The MLSE Team Up Foundation strives to improve the lives of youth by building facilities, giving to sustainable programs and empowering youth through sports and recreation. Changing lives through the spirit and the power of sports. For information visit www.mlseteamupfoundation.org or www.mlse.com

/NOTE TO EDITORS: Media Assets accompanying this story are available as follows:

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SOURCE Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd.