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

CHICAGO, Jan. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Some of Chicago's best-known professional athletes will take center stage to receive honors at the 24th Annual Comcast SportsNet Sports Awards presented by Navistar to benefit the March of Dimes. Over two-plus decades, the Comcast SportsNet Sports Awards has raised close to $8 million for the March of Dimes.  The dinner will be held on Monday, February 13th, 5 – 9 p.m. at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers, 301 E. North Water Street in Chicago.  The emcee is Chicago radio legend and local media personality Steve Dahl.

The honorees chosen are top athletes from Chicago's professional teams who have made considerable contributions to their teams, as well as the community. This year's honorees include Carlos Boozer (Bulls), Corey Crawford (Blackhawks), Kerry Wood (Cubs), Alexei Ramirez (White Sox), Logan Pause (Fire) and Earl Bennett (Bears).  In addition, Blackhawks legend/team Ambassador/Hockey Hall of Famer Tony Esposito will be honored with the "Lifetime Achievement Award."  For the pinnacle moment of the evening, this year's March of Dimes "Inspirational Athlete" award winner is 16-year-old Tywaun Crain from Chicago's North Lawndale community.  Tywaun has persevered as both an athlete and student, despite being born with cerebral palsy.

The 1000+ expected attendees 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.

In addition to Navistar, other event sponsors include PWC, Ernst & Young, KPMG, Office Space, Inc., Skadden Arps, Dana Corp, Latham & Watkins, Oracle, Draper and Kramer.

The event will begin with a reception at 5:00 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. The awards ceremony, which will be carried live on Comcast SportsNet in HD, starts at 7:30 p.m. with a special half-hour preview show set to air at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $350 per person and sponsorships are available.  To purchase tickets to the 24th Annual Comcast SportsNet Sports Awards, please call Rebecca Grant 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.  

Comcast Sports Group, part of the NBC Sports Group, consists of 14 local networks that deliver 2,400 sporting events annually and breaking news and analysis to more than 50 million cable and satellite homes. Comcast Sports Group's networks are: Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, Comcast SportsNet California, Comcast SportsNet Chicago, Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic, Comcast SportsNet New England, Comcast SportsNet Northwest, Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, SNY, The Mtn. – Mountain West Sports Network, CSS and Comcast Sports Southwest. Comcast Sports Group also manages NECN (New England Cable News), the nation's largest regional news network, and The Comcast Network, based in Philadelphia and Washington, which delivers community-oriented programming.  For more information, visit CSNChicago.com or ComcastSportsNet.com. 

SOURCE The March of Dimes