TicketsMarch 2, 2007
, - OppenheimerFunds, Inc., the Official Mutual Funds of the BIG EAST Conference, recently honored former coach, Sandy Smith, with the OppenheimerFunds BIG EAST Coach's Achievement Award. This award recognizes Coach Smith's outstanding leadership and her impressive accomplishments, both on and off the court. To celebrate her achievements, OppenheimerFunds will be making a $5,000 contribution in Coach Smith's name to the general scholarship fund at the .
Jennifer Heathwood, Vice President and Director of Brand Marketing at OppenheimerFunds, Inc., noted: "Throughout the honoree selection process, we worked closely with both BIG EAST and representatives to identify a candidate who, through his/her achievements, truly embodies our company's principles. Coach Smith's commitment to excellence and teamwork combined with her expertise and integrity all make her deserving of this recognition. We're excited to have entered our 2nd season of partnership with the BIG EAST conference. We're proud to support the , an institution which, like OppenheimerFunds, recognizes the critical role that great coaches play in assisting others to reach their goals."
Coach Smith joined the 's women's basketball coaching staff in 1979. She was the head coach from 1983 to 1986. During her tenure, her teams achieved a 132-83 record and had wins over powerhouses, such as the . During the 1985-86 season, she led the program to its best-ever record in the program's history at that time. She recruited and coached two-time All-American Cheryl Cook and All-American Bev Obringer. Recently, Coach Smith has begun monitoring game officials for the BIG EAST Conference. She was also a charter member of the planning committee that sold out the 2007 Women's Crosstown Shootout, which featured the second largest crowd to ever watch a women's basketball game in the state of .
In addition to recognizing coaches at several individual BIG EAST schools, OppenheimerFunds is also proud to be the Presenting Sponsor of the BIG EAST Coach of the Year award for men's basketball. OppenheimerFunds will make a $10,000 contribution to the general scholarship fund at the university affiliated with the winning coach.
About OppenheimerFunds, Inc.:
OppenheimerFunds, Inc. is one of the nation's largest and most respected investment management companies. At , OppenheimerFunds, Inc., including subsidiaries and controlled affiliates, managed more than $235 billion in assets, including mutual funds having more than 6 million shareholder accounts.
Shares of Oppenheimer funds are not deposits or obligations of any bank, are not guaranteed by any bank, are not insured by the FDIC or any other agency, and involve investment risks, including the possible loss of the principal amount invested.
The products and services of OppenheimerFunds, Inc. and its controlled affiliates include: mutual funds, hedge funds of funds, qualified retirement plans for individuals and corporations, investment management for institutions and sub-advisory services. OppenheimerFunds is widely recognized as a leader in educating and empowering investors and for its award-winning customer service.
Before investing in any of the Oppenheimer funds, investors should carefully consider a fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. Fund prospectuses contain this and other information about the funds, and may be obtained by asking your financial advisor, calling us at 1.800. 525.7048 or visiting our website at www.oppenheimerfunds.com. Read prospectuses carefully before investing.
Oppenheimer funds are distributed by OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc., Two World Financial Center, 225 Liberty Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10281. OppenheimerFunds, Inc. is a member of the MassMutual Financial Group and is not affiliated with Oppenheimer & Co, Inc. or Oppenheimer Capital LLC.
About MVPGROUP, LLC:
MVPGROUP is the non-traditional marketing division of The Martin Agency specializing in sponsorship marketing and sales, event marketing and management, affinity marketing, motorsports maketing and entertainment marketing. MVPGROUP has offices in , , and . MVPGROUP is proud to be affiliated with The Martin Agency, a full-service advertising and public relations firm located in .
About the BIG EAST Conference:
Since the BIG EAST Conference was formed in 1979-80, the league has experienced a steady evolution into one of the nation's leading athletic and academic conferences. BIG EAST sports attracts followers in the nation's largest media markets including New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington, D.C., Tampa, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Hartford. More than 400 BIG EAST athletes have earned All-America recognition and dozens have won individual NCAA national championships. Member institutions of the BIG EAST include , , DePaul, , , , Notre Dame, , , Rutgers, , Seton Hall, South Florida, , Villanova and .