From Gridiron to Grill: NFL Legend Boomer Esiason Announces 2006 Johnsonville Bratwurst Tailgating Hall of Fame

From Gridiron to Grill: NFL Legend Boomer Esiason Announces 2006 Johnsonville Bratwurst Tailgating Hall of Fame

Football Fans Can Help Johnsonville Raise $100,000 for Cystic Fibrosis Research

JOHNSONVILLE, Wis., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Where there's a football game, fans gathered around a grill aren't far behind, and, this year, legendary NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason is teaming up with tailgating favorite Johnsonville Brats to help gridiron gurus turn their boring tailgating meals into parking lot perfection while raising money for an important cause. Boomer is encouraging football fans everywhere from New England to San Diego to take a page out of his playbook and learn the best do's and don'ts of the grill this fall.

"This fall, I'm teaming up with Johnsonville Brats to make an even more significant contribution to the Foundation and help fight Cystic Fibrosis," said Esiason. "Johnsonville has been a strong supporter of the Boomer Esiason Foundation for many years, contributing more than $500,000 to date, and we're hopeful we can raise another $100,000 this tailgating season."

Each week during nationally broadcast Monday Night Football games on CBS/Westwood One Radio, Esiason will share a tailgating tip or technique that will help bring out the best tailgating traditions this season. In addition, Boomer will induct one professional coach into the "Johnsonville Bratwurst Tailgating Hall of Fame" each week and announce one lucky Johnsonville enthusiast who will receive a year's supply of Johnsonville Brats.

Once again, Johnsonville Brats will recognize the most important contributions of the tailgating community and will induct 16 professional coaches into the Johnsonville Bratwurst Tailgating Hall of Fame. Each week football fans can log onto http://www.johnsonville.com/ to vote for the professional football coach who made the best "game-time decision" during the prior week's games. For each vote logged at Johnsonville.com, the company will make a donation to the Boomer Esiason Foundation to help fund Cystic Fibrosis research.

At the end of the season, Johnsonville will make a donation of $5,000 to the Boomer Esiason Foundation on behalf of each inducted coach, with Johnsonville donating a total of $100,000 to the Boomer Esiason Foundation in 2006. The Foundation is a major partnership of the medical and business communities with the goal of funding research to eliminate Cystic Fibrosis, a respiratory disease and one of the most common fatal genetic disorders in the United States. Boomer Esiason started the foundation in 1993 after his young son, Gunnar, was diagnosed with the disease and has raised more than $35 million since then.

"Tens of thousands of Americans are grilling the great taste of Johnsonville Brats each tailgating season in both stadium lots and home parties," said Cory Bouck, senior brand manager, Johnsonville Brats. "The 'Johnsonville Bratwurst Tailgating Hall of Fame' not only recognizes coaches who have made great game-time decisions, but also helps support the Boomer Esiason Foundation's mission to help find a cure for Cystic Fibrosis."

About Boomer Esiason Foundation

The Boomer Esiason Foundation is a partnership of leaders in the medical and business communities joining with a committed core of volunteers to provide financial support to research aimed at finding a cure for cystic fibrosis. The Foundation works to heighten education and awareness of cystic fibrosis and to provide a better quality of life for those affected by cystic fibrosis.

About Johnsonville Sausage

Wisconsin-based Johnsonville Sausage is the number one national brand of brats, Italian sausage, smoked-cooked links and fresh breakfast sausage links. Johnsonville Sausage products are available in 39 countries including France, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Hong Kong, China and the United States. Johnsonville employs 1,000 members. Each of them takes ownership of product quality to ensure the excellence and "Big Taste" of Johnsonville Sausage. Founded in 1945 by Ralph F. & Alice Stayer, the company remains privately owned today.

Source: Johnsonville Sausage

CONTACT: Andy Gerlt of Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide,
+1-312-397-6012, or Andy.Gerlt@ogilvypr.com

Web site: http://www.johnsonville.com/

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