Ball Up Streetball Announces Partnership with the National Parkinson Foundation With Launch of Ball Up for Parkinson's Initiative

LOS ANGELES and MIAMI, April 29, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Ball Up, LLC has joined forces with the National Parkinson Foundation (NPF) to launch Ball Up for Parkinson's, an initiative to help raise awareness of Parkinson's disease (PD). The effort includes PSAs featuring the Ball Up All-Stars, an informational website and an all-star celebrity streetball game. The first set of PSAs will premiere Sunday, May 1, during Game 3 of the Ball Up 2011 Season, which is currently airing on Fox Sports Net (5 p.m. and 9 p.m.).  The celebrity game for NPF will air Sunday, June 12. 

The Ball Up for Parkinson's campaign is an important collaboration that brings together sports fans, athletes, families and people affected by Parkinson's disease. It will raise awareness and funds to support NPF's mission of improving the lives of people with Parkinson's disease.

The campaign's website, www.ballupforpd.org, will allow fans to find Ball Up for Parkinson's on Facebook and Twitter, as well as send a fan letter and make a donation to the campaign.

"We are thrilled that Ball Up has chosen the National Parkinson Foundation as a charitable partner.  Ball Up for Parkinson's will help us raise awareness of this debilitating disease, which is the second most common brain disease after Alzheimer's," said Joyce Oberdorf, NPF's President and CEO. "More than one million Americans suffer from Parkinson's and we are here to ensure that they get the treatments, support and care they so desperately need."

Parkinson's disease is a movement disorder that causes the deterioration of neurons in the brain that produce dopamine, which controls smooth, coordinated muscle function.  Studies have shown that any type of movement or consistent exercise program is beneficial and proven to help manage the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, as well as improving flexibility and mobility.  This partnership emphasizes the importance of movement and exercise for people with Parkinson's.

Ball Up CEO Demetrius Spencer added, "We are proud to announce the launch of Ball Up for Parkinson's.  The goal of this initiative is to help raise awareness and funds to fight Parkinson's and, most importantly, to keep people moving on and off the court!"

All proceeds from Ball Up for Parkinson's benefit the National Parkinson Foundation, a national, non-profit organization that funds research, education and outreach programs. Visit www.ballupforpd.org for more information about the campaign and ways to get involved.

About Ball Up, LLC

Founded in 2009, Ball Up is the leading streetball tour in the nation, featuring the Ball Up All-Stars which include many of the most celebrated and talented streetball players from around the country. Through its debut of the 2011 Ball Up Season on Fox Sports Net nationwide and tours that span the globe, Ball Up provides the ultimate streetball experience for both fans courtside and viewers at home. In addition to providing entertainment the whole family can enjoy, through its sponsors such as the Professional Streetball League (ProSBL) and partnerships with nonprofit organizations including the National Parkinson Foundation (NPF), Boys and Girls Club and others, the Ball Up organization and the Ball Up All-Stars are committed to making a positive impact in the basketball world and the global community. For more information, visit www.ballupstreetball.com.

About the National Parkinson Foundation

The mission of the National Parkinson Foundation is to improve the quality of care for people with Parkinson's disease through research, education and outreach. Founded in 1957, NPF is a leading national organization with an extensive grassroots network of Centers of Excellence, chapters and support groups in the United States and internationally. Unique among the national Parkinson's organizations, NPF is the only organization with a singular focus on improving the quality of care in Parkinson's disease. Since 1982, NPF has funded more than $155 million in care, research and support services.

About Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's with an estimated one million people with the disease in the U.S. and four to six million worldwide. At present, there is no cure for Parkinson's disease and 60,000 new cases are diagnosed each year in the U.S.

For more information about Parkinson's disease or the National Parkinson Foundation, please visit www.parkinson.org or call 1-800-4PD-INFO (473-4636).

SOURCE National Parkinson Foundation