POP WARNER EXECUTIVE RECOGNIZED AS
YOUTH SPORTS LEADER IN NATIONAL AWARDS PROGRAM

Silberman instills values of fair play, life lessons, sharing cultures, and
repairing the world for future generations

It is for this reason that Butler was selected by the National Council of Youth Sports (NCYS) as the recipient of the 2006 Hershey's STRIVE National Administrator of the Year Award.

Butler has been a guiding force in establishing a successful youth model in the sports business industry. Butler has worked with Pop Warner to enable children to participate in team sports and activities in a safe and structured environment with programs that teach fundamental values, skills and knowledge that will benefit them throughout their lives.

"By his example, Butler sets high standards for children to strive to do their best in athletics and academics while building enduring relationships," say nominator Lisa Moroski. "We will all continue to benefit from his knowledge, his background and grace in leadership as we grow our youth sports programs."

Pop Warner Little Scholars is the largest youth football, cheerleading & dance program in the United States. More than 360,000 young people (ages 5-16), 37,000 coaches and one million parents and volunteers are involved in the program in 41 states and several countries. Founded in 1929, Pop Warner is the only national youth sports organization that requires minimum scholastic achievement to participate.

Under Butler's leadership, Pop Warner established a National Championship Week for Football and Cheer & Dance with 64 football teams and 400 cheer/dance squads competing. He developed a Coaches Education Training Program for volunteers to learn the basic rules of sportsmanship, coaching techniques and respect for youth. Butler also supports a nationwide Simultaneous Kickoff and Play Football Month on a scale unmatched by any other youth football organization.

STRIVE stands for Sports Teach Respect, Initiative, Values and Excellence and the award honors adult leaders for their "heartfelt passion, enthusiastic commitment and contagious spirit to help kids succeed in youth sports activities." This year, NCYS will present Hershey's STRIVE Awards to one national administrator, one local administrator, one volunteer and one coach. Honorees were nominated by team members, parents or colleagues and judged by a panel of NCYS officials.

Sally S. Johnson, NCYS Executive Director, noted that the lack of recognition for outstanding adult leaders involved in youth sports prompted the NCYS to create the awards.

"We felt it was time to honor America's hometown heroes on a larger stage and to give them the praise they deserve," Johnson said. "Many of these individuals devote countless hours each week, all while juggling full-time careers, families, and other commitments."

Butler will be honored the first week in December during the Pop Warner National Championships at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex while commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Pop Warner Super Bowl. During the celebration, Butler will receive a check for $2,500, which he has announced will be donated to the Pop Warner Little Scholars Scholarship Fund.

Other STRIVE winners

In addition to National Administrator, the three other STRIVE Award winners for Local Administrator, Volunteer and Coach include:

Neil Parmenter of Des Moines, Iowa was selected as the 2006 Hershey's STRIVE Local Youth Sports Administrator of the Year. For more than three decades, Neil Parmenter has given countless volunteer hours to youth athletics. He has served as coach, board member, officer, player agent, tournament director, commissioner, volunteer, and administrator for multiple sports including the Beaverdale Little League, the Parochial Football League, and the Iowa and national Amateur Athletic Union (AAU). The father of eight children, Parmenter has fulfilled about every volunteer position in connection with ice hockey, swimming, soccer, softball, water polo, golf, baseball, football, and basketball programs. His supporters say, "For Neil youth sports are a labor of love."

Barbara Tobias of West Seneca, New York was chosen as the Hershey's STRIVE Volunteer of the Year. Tobias was recognized for her untiring volunteerism, valued organizational skills, humble work ethic, and ability to motivate others within the West Seneca Youth Hockey Association and her community. She is the mom of three hockey players and the adopted mother to a whole team of boys and their siblings. She is the association registrar, travel team manager, Booster Club president, hockey association board member, as well as the voice of the hockey moms.

Cindi Hart of Indianapolis, Indiana was selected the Hershey's STRIVE Coach of the Year for her commitment to the IndySpeed Sports Club and the Special Olympics Indiana. Against all odds, and through breast cancer treatment, Hart continued to coach and compete as an athlete while teaching her speed skaters and cyclists that "all obstacles can be overcome" with a positive attitude, attainable goal setting, courage and resilience through adversity. Hart's expertise and ability to bring out the best in her student athletes has taught athletes of all levels the life skills of compassion, perseverance and discipline.

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EDITOR'S NOTE: For more information about Jon Butler, the Hershey's STRIVE Award or NCYS, please contact Sally S. Johnson, NCYS Executive Director at 772-781-1452 or youthsports@ncys.org.

ABOUT The NCYS:

The National Council of Youth Sports (NCYS) comprises the who's who in the youth sports industry. Its membership represents more than 180 organizations/corporations serving 52 million boys and girls participating in organized youth sports throughout the United States. NCYS members include organizations such as: Little League Baseball, Pop Warner Football, American Youth Soccer Association, United States Olympic Committee, and Boys & Girls Clubs of America. To learn more about the NCYS visit www.ncys.org.

ABOUT The Hershey Company:

The Hershey Company has long offered successful fundraising programs for youth in America. Its sponsorship of the STRIVE Awards stems from The Hershey Company's devotion to helping children of all ages to "Dream, Reach and Succeed" in everything that they do. For more information about The Hershey Company and its fundraising programs, visit www.hersheysfundraising.com