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6th Annual “24-Hour Radiothon” and “Sportsperson of the Year” Event to Benefit The Caring Place July 22

Local and national sports and entertainment celebrities along with ESPN Radio 1100/98.9 have confirmed their participation to help host “The 24-Hour Radiothon” on July 22 to benefit The Caring Place, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to easing the journey of those affected by cancer.

“The 24-Hour Radiothon” and “Sportsperson of the Year” event began six years ago to help make The Caring Place a reality. The Caring Place offers no-cost services and programs to those battling cancer such as gentle yoga, massage therapy, meditation for stress reduction, nutrition classes and support groups provided by certified, licensed professionals that are intended to support conventional medical treatments.

The radio show will be broadcast from the Palms Casino and Resort for 24 hours beginning at 10 a.m. on July 22 and feature a myriad of celebrity hosts including Hall of Fame Showtime Boxing Announcer Al Bernstein.

ESPN Radio 1100/98.9 listeners and others from around the country will have the opportunity to bid for a one-hour co-hosting spot with one or more of the participating celebrities. The bidding will begin in a couple weeks, with most opening bids beginning at $100. Online bids can be placed at ESPN’s website – www.wearelv.com – with all proceeds benefiting The Caring Place.

A cocktail reception for the Sportsperson of the Year award will take place from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., providing guests an opportunity to mingle with multiple celebrities and sports figures.

The reception will be held at the Palms Casino Resort located at 4321 W. Flamingo Road. Tickets to the event are $75 per person or $600 for a table of 10, and can be purchased by calling 702-871-7333.

During the cocktail reception, MAACO Bowl Las Vegas Executive Director Tina Kunzer-Murphy will be honored as ESPN 1100/98.9’s 2011 Sportsperson of the Year. Kunzer-Murphy has been a fixture in the Southern Nevada sports community since earning her bachelor’s degree at UNLV in 1975. The former Rebel student-athlete and head coach went on to work for UNLV Athletics as Senior Women’s Administrator, Assistant Athletic Director and Senior Assistant AD before joining the Las Vegas 51s and Thunder professional franchises as Director of Corporate Sales and Marketing. After UNLV moved to the Western Athletic Conference in 1996, Kunzer-Murphy was hired by the league to run its annual football championship game and men’s and women’s basketball championship events in Las Vegas. Kunzer-Murphy was then selected to run the local ESPN Regional Television office and in 2000 she became Executive Director of the Las Vegas Bowl, which ERT purchased in 2001. Under her leadership, the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas has enjoyed six consecutive sellouts along with record TV ratings. The bowl will celebrate its 20th year on Thursday Dec. 22, 2011. One of only two current female bowl-game directors in the nation, Kunzer-Murphy currently serves as President of the Football Bowl Association. She was inducted into the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.

Previous Sportsperson of the Year recipients include Sacramento Kings & Palms Owners Joe and Gavin Maloof, Basketball Coach Lon Kruger, Boxing Promoter Bob Arum, Ultimate Fighting Championship President Dana White and Las Vegas 51s Executive Director Don Logan.

For more information about the 24-Hour Radiothon, go to WeAreLV.com. For more information on The Caring Place and these events, go to www.thecaringplacenv.org.