DETROIT, MI (May 5, 2008) – The 20th Annual Dodge National Athletic Awards to benefit the March of Dimes will take place at the Detroit Athletic Club on Monday, May 12th, 2008 at 7pm.   Since 1989, this event has honored some of the greatest sports legends, personalities and local athletes and while raising over $3 million to help prevent premature birth and save babies. 
This year, we are pleased to honor Lloyd Carr former University of Michigan football coach.  Among the awards being presented are the “Lifetime Achievement’, the DAC Michigan High School Male and Female Athlete of the Year, and the DAC Michigan Male and Female College Athlete of the Year Awards.  Steve Garagiola from WDIV will serve as emcee. The program will be taped and televised as a one hour special by WDIV Channel 4 locally and by Comcast Cable across the state. 
            The ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ is being presented to Lloyd Carr.  Lloyd Carr had a very successful career as coach of the University of Michigan football team that included big ten titles and a national championship.
 The winners of the DAC Michigan High School Athlete of the Year Awards will be announced at the ceremony. The nominees for the Female High School Athlete of the Year include Allison Schmitt of Canton High School, Makenzi Peterson of Big Rapids High School, Alissa Ott of Detroit Country Day School, Shannon Mathews of Cranbrook-Kingswood, Molly Coldren of Notre Dame Preparatory, and Meagan Bauer of Grand Blanc High School. The nominees for Male High School Athlete of the Year include, Mitchell Zajac of Holt High School, Timothy Shield of Grosse Pointe South High School, Grant Overcashier of Goodrich High School, Andrew Jung of Lakeview, Ted Howard of Birmingham Seaholm High School and Maverick Darling of Ovid-Elsie High School.
            The DAC Michigan College Athlete of the Year Awardees will be presented to Tiffany Ofili of University of Michigan and Jeff Lerg of Michigan State University.
The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies, the March of Dimes 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.
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