April 19, 2007

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - On Saturday afternoon, the UAB women's soccer team will be participating in Ethan Zohn's Reality All-Star Soccer Festival, which begins at 1 p.m. at West Campus Field. The Blazers will play against a host of celebrities from various reality television shows in a soccer match for charity.

Zohn's appearances for the weekend will support Grassroot Soccer, a global AIDS prevention organization he co-founded after winning the one million dollars on Survivor- Africa. Grassroot Soccer teams up with international soccer stars to deliver essential health prevention messages to children in the world's most HIV affected countries. More information can be found at www.grassrootsoccer.org.

"The Reality All-Star Soccer Festival is an unbelievable opportunity for us to take part in helping to mobilize the local soccer community in the fight against HIV/AIDS," said UAB head coach Paul Harbin. "Ethan Zohn's genuine passion for what he is doing with Grassroot Soccer is amazing."

The festival, which will kick-off with American Idol's Constantine Maroulis singing the National Anthem, will feature Zohn and other Survivor All-Stars contestants, including Rudy Boesch, "Big Tom" Buchanan, Jenna Morasca, Aras Baskauskas, Chad Crittenden, Ian Rosenberger and Alabama native Bobby Jon Drinkard.

Survivor will not be the only reality show represented at the event, as Trista and Ryan Sutter, along with Brook Smith from ABC's Bachelorette will be in attendance. Also making appearances will be Tiffany Parker Angel of

Trista and Ryan Sutter, along with Brook Smith, will represent ABC's Bachelorette. Tiffany Parker Angel from MTV's There and Back will be signing autographs and April Maciejczyk from NBC's Last Comic Standing will also be there.

"To be invited to take part in this event along with the reality television stars is a tremendous honor for our staff and players," said Harbin. "We hope to have a huge crowd out to the game and will do everything we can to support this wonderful cause."

Tickets for the game, as well as the dinner and auction that will be held on Saturday evening at The Rare Martini at 7 p.m., will be available on www.uabsports.com by clicking on the Reality All-Stars Soccer Festival logo or by calling the UAB ticket office at (205) 975-UAB1. Game tickets are $10.50 each, while admission to the dinner and auction are $125.50.