Top Tennis Stars Come to Hershey, Pa., as Part of the Advanta World TeamTennis
Smash Hits Charity Tennis Event
HERSHEY, Pa., Aug. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Hershey Company
(NYSE: HSY) and Governor Edward G. Rendell teamed up today with Sir Elton John
and Billie Jean King to bring pro tennis to Hershey, Pa. to raise money in the
fight against HIV/AIDS. Advanta's Smash Hits, set for GIANT Center on
November 7, 2005, will benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation and The Greater
Harrisburg AIDS Fund, a Community Partnership of the National AIDS Fund.
"We are thrilled to partner with Sir Elton John, Billie Jean King and
World TeamTennis to support the fight against HIV/AIDS in Pennsylvania by
bringing Smash Hits to Hershey," said Tom Hernquist, Senior Vice President,
President U.S. Confectionery, The Hershey Company. "The Hershey Company has a
proud heritage of contributing to the community, and Smash Hits provides an
excellent opportunity to make a difference to those living with HIV/AIDS.
This special event will help expand prevention efforts and care services in
central Pennsylvania."
John and King will play in a celebrity doubles match to open the event.
The evening will feature five sets of tennis, using the World TeamTennis (WTT)
format. Several of the top tennis players in the world, including Anna
Kournikova and Andy Roddick, will compete in singles, doubles and mixed
doubles. Players will form two teams, with one team captained by John and the
other by King.
Now in its 13th year, Smash Hits has raised more than $7 million to help
in the fight against HIV and AIDS around the globe.
For additional information, please visit the Elton John AIDS Foundation at
http://www.ejaf.org and World TeamTennis at http://www.wtt.com. For tickets,
please contact GIANT Center box office at 717-534-3911.
About Smash Hits
Established in 1992, the Elton John AIDS Foundation is an international
non-profit organization funding prevention education and direct patient care
services for men, women and children living with or at risk of HIV/AIDS. From
1992 to 2004, the Foundation has funded more than 2,417 grants in North
America. To date, the Elton John AIDS Foundation has distributed over $50
million to fund HIV/AIDS programs around the world. Since its inception,
Smash Hits has raised more than $5 million for the Foundation.
Players who have played the event in past years include Andre Agassi, Pete
Sampras, Andy Roddick, Anna Kournikova, Lindsay Davenport, Martina Navratilova
and Jimmy Connors.
About The Hershey Company
The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) is a leading snack food company and the
largest North American manufacturer of quality chocolate and non-chocolate
confectionery products. With revenues of over $4 billion and more than 13,000
employees worldwide, The Hershey Company markets such well-known brands as
Hershey's, Reese's, Hershey's Kisses, Kit Kat, Almond Joy, Mounds, Jolly
Rancher, Twizzlers, Ice Breakers, and Mauna Loa, as well as innovative new
products such as Take 5 candy bar and Hershey's cookies. In addition to its
traditional confectionery products, Hershey offers a range of products
specifically developed to address the nutritional interests of today's health-
conscious consumer. These products include sugar-free Hershey's, Reese's and
York candies, as well as Hershey's SmartZone bars for people seeking balanced
nutrition. It also markets Hershey's cocoa, Hershey's syrup and other branded
baking ingredients, toppings and beverages. Visit us at
http://www.hersheynewsroom.com.
SOURCE The Hershey Company
-0- 08/24/2005
/CONTACT: Sue Karli of The Hershey Company, +1-717-534-7641/
/Web site: http://www.ejaf.org /
/Web site: http://www.wtt.com /
/Web site: http://www.hersheynewsroom.com
http://www.hersheys.com /
(HSY)
CO: The Hershey Company; Advanta; World TeamTennis; Elton John AIDS
Foundation; The Greater Harrisburg AIDS Fund
ST: Pennsylvania
IN: FOD SPT HEA MTC ENT MUS
SU: NPT
PD
-- PHW018 --
7762 08/24/2005 12:12 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com
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