FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   TAYLOR HOOTON FOUNDATION’S ADVISORY BOARD NOW INCLUDES REPRESENTATIVES FROM ALL 30 MAJOR LEAGUE TEAMS 31 Players Step Up to Educate Young People          About the Dangers of Appearance and Performance Enhancing Drugs   Nashville, TN (December 7, 2015) – The Taylor Hooton Foundation announced today that its “Advisory Board” of active players now includes at least one player from each of the 30 Major League teams. The Hooton Foundation, widely acknowledged as the leader in the advocacy against appearance and performance enhancing drug use by the youth of America, inaugurated its “Advisory Board” in 2014. “It is difficult for me to put into words just how important the commitment that these great athletes and roles models is to our mission,” said Taylor Hooton Foundation president Don Hooton. “Education is, without question, the most effective weapon we have to fight the epidemic of appearance and performance-enhancing drug use by our young people and these players are sending a strong and valuable message. Its impact cannot be understated.” Dan Halem, Chief Legal Officer for Major League Baseball, said: “Major League Baseball has been a proud partner of the Taylor Hooton Foundation since 2005.  Over the last decade, we have appreciated the Foundation’s significant impact on educating kids about the dangers of performance-enhancing drug use.  We are delighted that so many Major League players have stepped forward in support of the ideals of competing with integrity and setting a positive example.” The Charter Members of the “Advisory Board” are:

Elvis Andrus (Texas Rangers)

Jake Arrieta (Chicago Cubs)

Jose Bautista (Toronto Blue Jays)

Jay Bruce (Cincinnati Reds)

Matt Carpenter (St. Louis Cardinals)

John Danks (Chicago White Sox)

*David DeJesus (Los Angeles Angels)

Brian Dozier (Minnesota Twins)

Logan Forsythe (Tampa Bay Rays)

Charlie Furbush (Seattle Mariners)

Brett Gardner (New York Yankees)

*Dillon Gee (New York Mets)

Ken Giles (Philadelphia Phillies)

*Alex Gordon (Kansas City Royals)

J. Hardy (Baltimore Orioles)

Clayton Kershaw (Los Angeles Dodgers)

Dallas Keuchel (Houston Astros)

Jason Kipnis (Cleveland Indians)

Nick Markakis (Atlanta Braves)

James McCann (Detroit Tigers)

Mark Melancon (Pittsburgh Pirates)

*Justin Morneau (Colorado Rockies)

Joe Panik (San Francisco Giants)

Dustin Pedroia (Boston Red Sox)

Josh Reddick (Oakland Athletics)

Anthony Rendon (Washington Nationals)

Tyson Ross (San Diego Padres)

**Logan Schafer (Milwaukee Brewers)

C.J. Wilson (Los Angeles Angels)

Christian Yelich (Miami Marlins)

Brad Ziegler (Arizona Diamondbacks)

* – Free Agent after 2015 season / ** – Signed with Washington Nationals after ’15 season

  As members of the “Advisory Board,” the players are participating in the THF’s educational activities in their local communities as well as in print, radio and TV public-service ads. In 2015, “Advisory Board” members participated in the THF’s “What Inspires Me?” print campaign with PSAs running in team magazines/programs as well as in the All-Star Game, League Championship Series and World Series programs. Working with national partner Getty Images for the second year, the 2016 campaign – “It’s All Me” – will debut with the start of the upcoming MLB season. Board members have also provided their input on the most-effective ways to educate North America’s young people about the dangers of anabolic steroids and other appearance and performance enhancing drugs. To date, the Taylor Hooton Foundation has spoken to and educated more than one-million people. It has a Latin American outreach and travels throughout the Caribbean, speaking to thousands of RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) athletes, coaches and parents in partnership with Major League Baseball. Additionally, the THF introduced a new eLearning program in 2014 – narrated by Bob Costas – to Little League Baseball that is offered to its one-million adult coaches and other volunteers.   CONTACT:   Rick Cerrone / Rick Cerrone Communications (914) 715-5491 / rick@rickcerrone.com    About The Taylor Hooton Foundation: The Taylor Hooton Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization that is dedicated to educating North America’s young people about the dangers of anabolic steroids and other appearance and performance enhancing drugs.   The friends and family of Taylor Hooton formed the Foundation in 2004 after his untimely death at 17 years old following his use of anabolic steroids.   For more information about the Taylor Hooton Foundation and its efforts, please visit www.taylorhooton.org and www.allmeleague.com.