The Zone Groundbreaking at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite Scheduled for NHL All-Star Weekend

Country Music Star Garth Brooks, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, NHLPA Executive Director Paul Kelly and Thrashers Executive V.P., G.M. and Head Coach Don Waddell to Participate in Special Event on Sunday, Jan. 27

A special groundbreaking ceremony will take place at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite on Sunday, Jan. 27 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. to introduce The Zone, a state-of-the-art educational and therapeutic environment for children and their families being built within the hospital.

Speakers at the groundbreaking ceremony include Garth Brooks, National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman, National Hockey League Players’ Association Executive Director Paul Kelly, Thrashers Executive Vice President, General Manager and Head Coach Don Waddell and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta CEO Jim Tally, PhD.

As Official Children’s Charity of the NHL and NHLPA, The Zone is underwritten by the Garth Brooks Teammates for Kids Foundation, which raises funds from professional athletes, including several Atlanta Thrashers players, and other donors to provide financial assistance to children’s charities.

The event will take place in the hospital’s auditorium and will include a special video presentation that will provide a virtual tour of The Zone and a tour of the future site of the facility.

In partnership with the Garth Brooks Teammates for Kids Foundation, The Zone has already been completed at five hospitals throughout the United States, including the Medical Center of Dallas, Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth, Oklahoma City Children’s Hospital and Kravis Children’s Hospital at Mount Sinai in New York City.

The groundbreaking ceremony is part of the festivities surrounding the 2008 NHL All-Star Weekend at Philips Arena, which is highlighted by the Dodge/NHL SuperSkills on Saturday, Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. and the 56th NHL All-Star Game on Sunday, Jan. 27 at 6 p.m.

For more information, visit www.teammatesforkids.com or www.choa.org.