[img:ESWGheader.jpg]
LAKE PLACID, N.Y. – The Empire State Winter Games announced Monday the addition of Price Chopper supermarkets to its growing list of event sponsors. Price Chopper becomes a silver level participant in the annual event.
The 32nd annual edition of the Empire State Winter Games will be held Feb. 2-5, 2012, in Lake Placid, Saranac Lake and Wilmington. Most of the competition will be held on venues managed by the state Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA).
For 30 years beginning in 1980, New York State conducted the annual Games before the state's budget crisis forced its removal from the budget of state Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. At that point, an Adirondack region coalition banded together, virtually overnight, to continue the legacy of these events for the state's youth.
Price Chopper is based in New York's Capital District. In addition to locations in New York, the company has supermarkets in Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and New Hampshire.
"Price Chopper is thrilled to support the high level of amateur athleticism here in New York that the Empire State Winter Games represent," said Mona Golub, VP Public Relations and Consumer and Marketing Services.
It is anticipated that other sponsors will be added in the coming weeks.
Stewart's Shops recently re-signed as a 2012 ESWG bronze level sponsor. The ESWG also has reached in–kind agreements with Clif Bar and Company as well as CABOT Creamery Cooperative.
Price Chopper's commitment to the Games extends beyond the financial. Promotional signage will appear in each of the company's New York stores in the two weeks prior to the Opening Ceremonies on Feb. 2.
Also, Price Chopper will prepare pre-recorded in-store announcements to inform shoppers of the events taking place in the Northern Adirondack region.
Price Chopper's weekly insert will feature the ESWG, and there will be a Games presence on the supermarket chain's website (www.pricechopper.com) with a click-through to www.empirestatewintergames.com for those who want more event-related information.
"We are happy to add another New York business to our family of sponsors," said James McKenna, President of the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism and head of the ESWG Organizing Committee. "Price Chopper stores are in many markets where our athletes reside and we look forward to partnering with them. One of our missions in continuing the Games is to emphasize a healthy lifestyle, especially with youngsters. Price Chopper offers healthy alternatives for kids and we're glad to associate with that."
Clif Bar and CABOT Creamery will provide products to the ESWG.
Corporations and other business entities interested in becoming official partners of the 2012 ESWG can see an overview of various sponsor packages by logging on to:
www.empirestatewintergames.com and click on Sponsorship.
-ESWG-
The Empire State Winter Games is a community-driven event, courtesy of a partnership between the Lake Placid CVB, the Town of North Elba, the Village of Lake Placid, the NY State Olympic Regional Development Authority, the Village of Saranac Lake, the Town of Wilmington, Town of Harrietstown, Town of St. Armand, Plattsburgh/North Country Chamber of Commerce, Adirondack Medical Center, Sen. Betty Little, and Essex County. LPEC Quality Destination, Inc., a subsidiary of the LPEC Visitors Bureau, is a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit, and is fiscally responsible for the ESWG.