"25th Annual Comcast SportsNet Sports Awards" to be Televised Live on Comcast SportsNet on Thursday, January 24^th at 7:30 PM CT (Pre-Show Special airs at 7 PM)

CHICAGO, Dec. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Many of Chicago's most popular past and present professional athletes will take center stage to receive honors at the 25th Annual Comcast SportsNet Sports Awards to benefit the March of Dimes.  The silver anniversary reception, dinner & ceremony will be held on Thursday, January 24^th, 2013 from 5:00-9:00 PM CT at the Hilton Chicago & Towers, 720 S. Michigan Avenue.  Over the past 24 years, the Comcast SportsNet Sports Awards has raised close to $9 million for the March of Dimes. 

The honorees chosen are top athletes from Chicago's professional teams who have made considerable contributions to their teams, as well as the Chicago community. Special to the 25th anniversary of this event: both a current player and a legend from each professional Chicago sports team will be honored. This year's "Player of the Year" and "Team Legend" honorees include RICHARD "RIP" HAMILTON ("Bull of the Year"), BOB LOVE ("Bulls Legend") -- EDDIE OLCZYK ("Blackhawks Legend") -- DARWIN BARNEY ("Cub of the Year"), ERNIE BANKS ("Cubs Legend") -- CHRIS SALE ("White Sox of the Year"), FRANK THOMAS ("White Sox Legend") -- PATRICK NYARKO ("Fire of the Year"), FRANK KLOPAS ("Fire Legend").  Honorees from the Chicago Bears will be announced shortly.  For the pinnacle moment of the evening, this year's March of Dimes "Inspirational Athlete" award winner is 13-year-old CONNOR McHUGH from St. Michael Parish School in Wheaton, IL.  Connor has persevered as both a standout athlete, coach and student, despite being born with a birth defect.

The 1000+ expected attendees for the 25^th Annual Comcast SportsNet Sports Awards will also be able to participate in a silent auction featuring Chicago sports packages and "Dream Day" tickets, vacation packages including airfare, autographed jerseys of star athletes, tickets for Chicago sports events, golf outings, spa packages, dinner packages, hotel stays and much more.  For more information, fans are urged to visit CSNChicago.com/sportsawards25.

William T. Barry, Senior Vice President of Draper & Kramer is the event's Chairman and James J. Corno is the President of Comcast SportsNet Chicago.  The Honorary Chairmen are Cary D. McMillan, CEO, True Partners Consulting, LLC and Ron Boire, President, Sears and Kmart Formats, Sears Holdings Corporation.

Event sponsors include Comcast SportsNet, True Partners, Quaker, Draper & Kramer, Equity Residential, KPMG, Newmark Grubb Knight Frank and PricewaterHouse Coopers.

The event will begin with a reception at 5:00 PM, followed by dinner at 6:30 PM.  The awards ceremony, which will be carried live on Comcast SportsNet in HD, starts at 7:30 PM with a special half-hour preview show set to air at 7:00 PM.  Tickets are $400 per person and sponsorships are available.  To purchase tickets or to make a donation to the 25^th Annual Comcast SportsNet Sports Awards, please contact Shannon McCahill at 312-596-4716 (smccahill@marchofdimes.com) or visit CSNChicago.com/sportsawards25.

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health that works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.  For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org.  

NBC Sports Regional Networks, part of the NBC Sports Group, consists of 13 local networks that deliver more than 2,400 sporting events annually, along with breaking news and comprehensive analysis, to more than 50 million cable and satellite homes.  The NBC Sports Regional Networks are: Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, Comcast SportsNet California, Comcast SportsNet Chicago, Comcast SportsNet Houston, Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic, Comcast SportsNet New England, Comcast SportsNet Northwest, Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, CSS and SNY.  NBC Sports Regional Networks also manages NECN (New England Cable News), the nation's largest regional news network, and The Comcast Network, based in Philadelphia and Washington, which delivers community-oriented programming.  For more information, visit CSNChicago.com or ComcastSportsNet.com.

SOURCE The March of Dimes