Jazz to Host 30 Rare Children at Feb. 27 Game

Kids to stand with Jazz, Nets during National Anthem

Media interested in interviews and access should contact Gina Calvert at (801) 325-2319 or gina.calvert@utahjazz.com. Utah Rare children will join the players on the court at 7:30 p.m. for the National Anthem on Saturday, Feb. 27. 

SALT LAKE CITY (February 25, 2016) – The Utah Jazz will host 30 rare children during the Jazz-Brooklyn Nets game on Feb. 27at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The youth, living with chronic and debilitating rare diseases, will stand with members of the Jazz and Nets during the National Anthem.

One in 10 Utahns suffers from a rare disease, and the organization Utah Rare is marking Rare Disease Day with a series of events Feb. 27-29. The group’s attendance at the Jazz game is supported by tickets through the Jazz player donation program and sponsored by a grassroots organization, known as RUN for Rare and Undiagnosed Network. The children will also be wearing lapel pins and wristbands from the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD).

Jazz assistant general manager Justin Zanik, his wife Gina Szajnuk, and their three rare children, have organized RUN to raise awareness for families with children afflicted with undiagnosed or rare conditions and to bring together researchers, insurance providers and industry stakeholders to meet these families’ needs. Szajnuk is this year’s Utah Rare Chair, the Utah State Ambassador for NORD and the founder of RUN.

“The opportunity for these children to stand on the court for the National Anthem with NBA players is a moment in time these children will never forget. It is an honor and a very special experience for each and every single one of them,” said Szajnuk, founder of RUN. “Too often, their lives are caught up in a medical odyssey of fighting rare and undiagnosed genetic conditions. Many of these children suffer in pain every single day of their lives. This moment will call public attention to their challenges, but also show that they are not alone. We are standing together in hopes of better lives for all of them.”

Utah Rare is holding a symposium, supported by the Miller Family Foundation, Utah Jazz and University of Utah Health Care, beginning at noon at the Salt Lake City Marriott University Park on Feb. 27 and an advocacy event at 3 p.m. in the Utah State Capitol Rotunda on Feb. 29. These events are free and open to the public with more information at www.utahrare.org. Rare Disease Day takes place on the last day of February each year.

Three other NBA teams – Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks and Washington Wizards – are also supporting Rare Disease Day by hosting rare children at their games.

About Utah Rare

Utah Rare is a coalition of organizations formed to advocate on behalf of the one in every 10 Utahns affected by a rare disease, and coordinate the Rare Disease Day events across the state.

About the Utah Jazz

Founded as the 18th member of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1974, and located in Salt Lake City since 1979, the Utah Jazz are committed to excellence as a team and in the community. On the court, the Jazz are the third-winningest team in the NBA over the last 30 years, having won eight division titles and two Western Conference championships along with 14 seasons of 50-plus wins, and are supported by one of the most passionate fan bases in all of sports. Away from the court, the Jazz are very active in the local community and have assisted a multitude of organizations and worthy causes by way of charitable donations, service and grants through Larry H. Miller Charities. The Utah Jazz also operates the Junior Jazz program, the largest and longest-running youth basketball league in the NBA, featuring more than 50,000 players and an additional 13,000 volunteers who take part annually across seven states. For more information on the Utah Jazz, visit www.utahjazz.com.

 –@JazzDoingGood or utahjazz.com–

Media Contacts: Gina Calvert, Larry H. Miller Sports & Entertainment, (801) 325-2319, gina.calvert@utahjazz.com; Gina Szajnuk, Utah Rare, (310) 883-4353, ginaszajnuk@gmail.com