StrategicDiversity.com Diversity's Home Page

For Immediate Release

Monday, February 26, 2007

Contact Information

Brandi North-Williams, 704-779-1100, brandi@prdesigner.com
Jetta Bates, 312-751-9689, 773-983-9593, jbates@beamaninc.com
Lori George-Billingsley, 404-676-0621, lbillingsley@na.ko.com

(BPRW) Coca-Cola and the CIAA Mark 40 Years of Celebrating Athletic Achievement and Academic Excellence at the 2007 CIAA Tournament

Multiplatinum recording artists Boyz II Men, actress Vivica A. Fox, Coca-Cola Presents “Showtime at the Apollo on Tour” competition and the Tournament MVP and Scholarship Award presentations among the scheduled highlights

(BLACK PR WIRE) ATLANTA, February 26, 2007 – The Coca-Cola Company reprises its longstanding support of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) and its annual CIAA Basketball Tournament as a presenting corporate sponsor. Scheduled to take place Feb. 26 through March 3 at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, N.C., the CIAA Tournament is the largest HBCU basketball tournament in the nation.

Coca-Cola has been a proud sponsor of this hallmark event for 40 consecutive years and is among the first corporate sponsors to pledge its support of the CIAA Tournament.

“We are very excited about this year’s CIAA Tournament as it marks our 40th anniversary with the CIAA,” said Doug Coffed, vice president, Southeast Region, Coca-Cola North America. “Over the years, we have proudly witnessed the conference tournament grow remarkably by expanding its entertainment value and increasing its national exposure. The Tournament is a definite win-win for everyone involved – the city of Charlotte, the CIAA schools, and The Coca-Cola Company.”

This 62nd Annual CIAA Tournament will showcase the exceptional talents of the students from each participating school, and The Coca-Cola Company is bringing in celebrities from all walks of entertainment, including film star Vivica A. Fox from the box office smash hits “Kill Bill” and “Independence Day,” TV star Wendy Raquel Robinson of the CW sitcom “The Game” and “The Steve Harvey Show,” and Grammy Award-winning, multiplatinum recording artists Boyz II Men.

“The CIAA has enjoyed a great relationship with Coca-Cola over the years,” said Leon G. Kerry, commissioner of the CIAA. “Some of our largest sponsorships have come from Coca-Cola, and we look forward to building on our 40-year foundation of providing opportunities for our students through scholarships and experiences of a lifetime.”

Other Coca-Cola-sponsored 2007 CIAA Tournament highlights include:

Coca-Cola Presents “Showtime at the Apollo on Tour” – Sixteen CIAA student-acts will compete for the chance to appear on the legendary stage of the famous Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York. Auditions were open exclusively to CIAA students and previously held at three campuses (Virginia State University – 1/25; North Carolina Central University – 1/26; and Johnson C. Smith University – 1/27). Competing acts include singers (solo or group), dancers, musicians, comedians, and other specialty acts. The finalists will compete for the grand prize in front of a live audience at Coca-Cola Presents “Showtime at the Apollo on Tour” competition on Thursday, March 1 at 10:00 p.m. at the Charlotte Convention Center. Multiplatinum recording artists Boyz II Men will also perform that evening.

The winning act will receive an opportunity to perform at the legendary Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York. Round trip airline tickets to New York, hotel accommodations and $1,000 spending money for the act will also be awarded to the grand prize winner.

CIAA President’s Dinner – The 2007 “What Makes a Leader?” President’s Dinner will bring together the leadership from all 11 CIAA institutions. The ceremonial dinner will take place on Friday, March 2 at the Student Union at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, N.C. at 3:30 p.m. The dinner is a celebration of each CIAA president for their individual achievements as leaders and their tutelage of tomorrow’s future leaders. In keeping with The Coca-Cola Company’s vision as an active promoter of education and scholarly pursuit, this hallmark event will cast the spotlight on each CIAA President and acknowledge the accomplishments of other African-American leaders. Award-winning actress Vivica A. Fox is confirmed as the evening’s hostess.

2007 CIAA Tournament MVP Award and Scholarship Presentations – At the close of the tournament, The Coca-Cola Company will present the CIAA Tournament MVP Award to the top player who exhibits superior performance and unparalleled leadership on the court.

As a proud supporter of education, The Coca-Cola Company has a longstanding tradition of awarding academic scholarships during the CIAA Tournament. In keeping with that tradition, The Coca-Cola Company will award a $100,000 scholarship that will be evenly distributed to the general scholarship fund of each institution. The funds will help students further their dreams and aspirations as future African-American leaders.

About The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company is the world's largest beverage company. Along with Coca-Cola®, recognized as the world's most valuable brand, the Company markets four of the world's top five soft drink brands, including Diet Coke®, Fanta® and Sprite®, and a wide range of other beverages, including diet and light soft drinks, waters, juices and juice drinks, teas, coffees, energy and sports drinks. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company's beverages at a rate exceeding 1.3 billion servings each day. For more information about The Coca-Cola Company, please visit our website at www.thecoca-colacompany.com.

About the CIAA and the CIAA Basketball Tournament
Established in 1912, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is the nation’s oldest black athletic conference, rich in history and heritage. The CIAA is entering its ninety-third year of athletic competition in which they will continue to reap success and recognition on the field and on the court. The presence of the CIAA as a premiere member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II continues to expand throughout the country. The reputation, in conjunction with the academic success of our athletes, is a proud legacy for the CIAA. For more information about the CIAA, please visit our website at www.theciaa.com.

The CIAA Basketball Tournament is the largest HBCU basketball tournament in the nation. The tournament spurs more than 30 ancillary events throughout the weeklong contest and attracts more than 124,000 attendees annually. The popularity of the CIAA Basketball Tournament is credited with increasing the CIAA’s exposure with the expansion of national television broadcasts and corporate sponsorship. For information about the 2007 CIAA Basketball Tournament and related events, please visit us online at www.ciaatournament.org.

| editor@strategicdiversity.com | Crescent Strategic Resources |