The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Sports Philanthropy Project will present the 2006 Steve Patterson Sports Philanthropy Award to the Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation at a luncheon on Monday, September 18th. This prestigious national award is given annually to only one foundation across all professional sports leagues. Later that evening, the Jaguars Foundation and the award presenters will be recognized in a special pre-game on-field ceremony before Monday Night Football. Members of the media are invited to attend the luncheon, and to speak with Jaguars team and foundation representatives, as well as representatives of RWJF and SPP.

Press passes are not needed for the luncheon, but are mandatory for the pre-game ceremony.

The Steve Patterson Sports Philanthropy Award is presented annually by to a sports team or athlete foundation whose work is devoted to improving the lives of others. The Jaguars Foundation is being honored for developing innovative community programs, which have received national recognition and have been widely replicated, and for their support of organizations and initiatives focused on empowering young people.

The award itself embodies the values of its namesake. Steve Patterson was a well-known center on three national championship basketball teams at UCLA, and later played in the NBA and coached at Arizona State University. Following his athletic career, Steve founded Patterson Sports Ventures, linking players, teams and sports foundations with important social causes. Tragically, Steve Patterson was diagnosed with cancer in June of 2004 and passed away a month later at the age of 56. Steve Patterson's widow, Carlette Patterson, will present the award to Delores Barr Weaver, co-owner of the Jaguars and Chair/CEO of the Jaguars Foundation.