Released: March 31, 2005

Connecticut Crush Women’s Football Team to Visit CREC’s Polaris Center April 9

Players – Including a CREC Preschool Teacher – Will Sign Autographs, Demonstrate Equipment to Female Students

March 31, 2005

(East Hartford) – More than 30 female students from the John J. Allison Jr. Polaris Center, a program of the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC), will meet and interact with players from the Connecticut Crush, the state’s professional National Women’s Football Association (NWFA) team, on Saturday, April 9 from 10:30 a.m. to noon, in the Polaris Center’s gymnasium, 474 School Street, East Hartford.

As many as 20 players will attend and sign autograph cards, and the students will have the opportunity to try on the professional football gear and to have their photographs taken with the players.

“Professional athletes can be strong, positive role models for teens, including young women,” said Salvador Rodriguez, Recreation/Community Service Coordinator, who works daily with the 34 young women currently residing at the Polaris Center.  “The Crush are women who live in the area, many of whom have families of their own and work in other professions, in addition to training and playing for the team.  They clearly can speak to our students about balancing tough schedules and why it’s worth working so hard to do what you love to do.”

In fact, one player on the Crush is a preschool teacher in another CREC program, the River Street Early Learning Center, a new preschool for children ages 3-5 at CREC’s Coltsville facility, 34 Sequassen Street, Hartford.  Sara Greene, who holds a master’s degree in education from the University of New Haven, is on the Crush.

The Connecticut Crush is a full-contact women’s professional football team in the NWFA, founded along with the league in 2001.  The team’s fifth season kicks off at their home stadium, Veteran’s Memorial Stadium in New Britain, on April 23 against the Erie Illusion.  A roster of more than 50 women make up the Connecticut Crush, with players ranging in age from 18 to 55.  In addition to providing a venue for female athletes to play full-contact football, the team strives to create a forum that provides education and support for young female athletes; to provide reasonably priced, family entertainment; to serve as positive leaders in the community; and to act as role models for all children.  For more information, please visit www.crushfootball.com.

The NWFA is the largest and most successful women’s football league in the world with 37 teams in 23 states.  The league has been featured in a wide range of media outlets, including Sports Illustrated, the CBS Evening News, MSNBC, the Today Show, the Tonight show and Nickelodeon.  The 2004 Championship Game – held at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky, last summer – was broadcast on iN DEMAND Pay-Per-View.  For more information, please visit www.womensfootballcentral.com.

CREC’s John J. Allison Jr. Polaris Center is a comprehensive treatment program for children, adolescents and their families, providing educational, mental health and other services to students in the Greater Hartford area.  In addition to an academic school for students in grades 7-12, Polaris offers a residential program for female students, an alternative program for expelled students (APEX), an outpatient psychiatric clinic, a healthcare clinic, a diagnostic placement program and a summer adventure program.