Comcast SportsNet Sports Awards Salutes Chicago's Sports Stars at Annual Dinner Benefiting the March Of Dimes

CHICAGO, Jan. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Some of Chicago's best-known professional athletes will take center stage to receive honors at the 23rd Annual Comcast SportsNet Sports Awards presented by Four Seasons Heating & Air Conditioning to benefit the March of Dimes.  The dinner, which is also presented by Navistar, will be held on Monday, February 14th, 5 – 9 p.m. at the Hilton Chicago, 720 S. Michigan Avenue in Chicago.  The emcee is Chicago radio legend and personality Steve Dahl.

This year's honorees include Duncan Keith (Blackhawks), Taj Gibson (Bulls), Marlon Byrd (Cubs), Gordon Beckham (White Sox) and Sean Johnson (Fire).  The Bears award recipient is TBA.  In addition, White Sox World Series champion manager Ozzie Guillen is this year's "Lifetime Achievement Award" recipient.  Plus, the event will also present a special "champions" award honor to the 2010 Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks.  For the pinnacle moment of the evening, this year's March of Dimes "Inspirational Athlete" award winner will be 15-year-old Jonathan Ruiz, who has persevered as an athlete, student, and mentor, despite being born with spina bifida.

The 900-plus expected attendees for the event will also be able to participate in a silent auction featuring Chicago sports packages and "Dream Day" tickets, vacation packages including airfare, autographed jerseys of star athletes, tickets for Chicago sports events, golf outings, spa packages, dinner packages, hotel stays and much more.  Fans are urged to visit CSNChicago.com and click on the "Sports Awards" link for complete event details, ticket/table sales and online auction bidding.

Daniel C. Ustian, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Navistar International Corporation, the parent company of Warrenville, IL based International Truck and Engine Corporation, is the honorary chair of this year's Comcast SportsNet Sports Awards. William T. Barry, Senior Vice President of Draper & Kramer is the event's Chairman and James J. Corno is the President of Comcast SportsNet Chicago.

Other event sponsors include Accenture, Draper and Kramer, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Hendrickson, VedderPrice, United Healthcare, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Grubb and Ellis, KPMG, Molex, Ernst and Young, Skadden Arps, Jones Lang LaSalle, Tyler Lane Construction and True Partners Consulting LLC.

The event will begin with a reception at 5:00 PM, followed by dinner at 6:30 PM.  The awards ceremony, which will be carried live on Comcast SportsNet in HD, starts at 7:30 PM with a special half-hour preview show set to air at 7:00 PM.  Tickets are $350 per person and sponsorships are available.  To purchase tickets, please call Rebecca Milbert at (312) 596-4721 or visit CSNChicago.com.

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health that works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.  For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org.

SOURCE The March of Dimes