ACE Brand and LL COOL J Announce Winners of ACE Brand “A” Game Challenge

ACE Brand Partners with After-School All-Stars to Reward Aspiring Athlete with $10,000 Grand Prize

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ACE Brand "A" Game Challenge Grand Prize Winner - Ryan Riffle from Salem, OR

ST. PAUL, Minn.--()--ACE Brand from 3M Company and Grammy-award winning recording artist and actor, LL COOL J, announce the winners of the ACE Brand “A” Game Challenge. The nationwide contest invited sports fans and aspiring athletes to submit “A” Game video entries showcasing their unique skills, tricks and one-of-a-kind winning moments in sports. This partnership benefited non-profit organization After-School All-Stars, the number one national provider of year-round, school-based after-school programs. The program also supported the launch of ACE Brand Sports Medicine Products, which helps keep athletes off the sidelines and in the action where they belong.

LL COOL J joined ACE Brand in naming three winners whose “A” Game videos stood out from the rest. Athletes of all types including swimmers, golfers, as well as soccer, basketball and football stars submitted entries and vied for the chance to win a selection of prizes from ACE Brand.

“The ACE Brand 'A' Game Challenge gave me a chance to see first-hand the passion and commitment demonstrated by these young athletes nationwide,” said LL COOL J. “Not only were the videos inspiring, but they help continue to spotlight the importance of access to team sports programs.”

Ryan Riffle from Salem, OR is awarded the grand prize for demonstrating his “A” Game with unique technical skills and inspiring athletic spirit in a video compilation showcasing precise shooting ability and extraordinary trick-shots. Riffle will receive a $10,000 prize. The two runner-up winners are Jocelyn Senecal from Pawtucket, RI whose video demonstrated a crowd-pleasing “over-the-house” basketball shot, and Samantha Mladjov from Oakland, CA who illustrated superb water polo skills in a series of goal-scoring moments. Senecal and Mladjov will each receive a $2,500 prize. All winners will receive an ACE Brand Sports Medicine Products Pack.

“The ACE Brand 'A' Game Challenge provided us with an inside look at the commitment, skill, creativity and effort that athletes and sports enthusiasts demonstrate across the country,” said Taylor Harper, marketing manager, ACE Brand Sports Medicine Products. “With our new ACE Brand Sports Medicine Products, we are committed to ensuring these athletes stay at the top of their 'A' Game – and through this contest we celebrate aspiring athletes everywhere and their achievements.”

For more information about the ACE Brand Sports Medicine Products, and the winners of the ACE Brand “A” Game Challenge please visit ACEBrand.com/AGameChallenge.

About 3M
3M captures the spark of new ideas and transforms them into thousands of ingenious products. Our culture of creative collaboration inspires a never-ending stream of powerful technologies that make life better. 3M is the innovation company that never stops inventing. With $30 billion in sales, 3M employs 88,000 people worldwide and has operations in more than 70 countries. For more information, visit www.3M.com or follow @3MNews on Twitter.

About After-School All-Stars
Founded in 1992, After-School All-Stars is a leading national provider of year-round, school-based, comprehensive after-school programs. During the school year, children participate in free programs that include academic support, enrichment opportunities, and health/fitness activities. The organization’s mission is to keep children safe and help them succeed in school and in life. Nearly 90,000 children from families of poverty benefit in 13 U.S. regions: Atlanta, Chicago, Hawaii, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, North Texas, Ohio, Orlando, San Antonio, San Diego, South Florida and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.as-as.org.

3M and ACE are trademarks of 3M.
©3M 2013

Contacts

LaForce + Stevens
GraceMarie Thomas, 212-242-9353
gthomas@laforce-stevens.com
or
Shauna Solum, 212-242-9353
ssolum@laforce-stevens.com
or
3M Public Relations and Corporate Communications
Robert Brittain, 651-733-7034
rbrittain@mmm.com

Contacts

LaForce + Stevens
GraceMarie Thomas, 212-242-9353
gthomas@laforce-stevens.com
or
Shauna Solum, 212-242-9353
ssolum@laforce-stevens.com
or
3M Public Relations and Corporate Communications
Robert Brittain, 651-733-7034
rbrittain@mmm.com