IHSAA News Release

August 20, 2009

IHSAA AND RED GOLD® EXPAND PARTNERSHIP FOR 2009-10;
NEW INITIATIVES REINFORCE COMMITMENT TO SPORTSMANSHIP

The Indiana High School Athletic Association, Inc. is pleased to announce an expanded partnership with Red Gold®, Inc. as the official tomato products supplier of the IHSAA and its member schools for 2009-10 school year.

Red Gold, a family-owned and operated company in Indiana since 1942, is a manufacturer of premium quality tomato and tomato-based products with operations based in Orestes, Indiana.

As part of the continued partnership, Red Gold will make complimentary Red Gold Brand Ketchup available to all of the concession stands of IHSAA member schools, through a special “free” coupon program.  Additionally, Red Gold will, once again promote sportsmanship in all areas of the high school sports experience through the distribution of the annual IHSAA Sportsmanship Posters to all Indiana high schools. Nearly 5,000 posters will be distributed and displayed at member schools stressing the importance of being a good sport.

We are also very pleased to announce the creation of the RED GOLD IHSAA SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD which will recognize the outstanding efforts of individual schools to promote sportsmanship in their schools during each of the fall, winter and spring seasons. Red Gold will present a $2,000 cash award to the school that best exemplifies good sportsmanship in all areas of their athletic programs both on and off the field.  Red Gold will recognize the school during one of the IHSAA championship events at the conclusion of each sports season. Working in conjunction with the IHSAA Student Advisory Committee, Red Gold and the IHSAA will solicit information directly from each school to determine the award recipient.

Also new t his year, the “SCORE ONE FOR YOUR SCHOOLFree Sports Equipment Promotion, will begin around the midpoint of the fall sports season. Each IHSAA member school who commits to making Red Gold the Ketchup of choice for their concession program will be eligible. This innovative promotion will encourage students, parents and fans to “text message” via their mobile phone to show support for their school’s athletic programs. Anyone and everyone can vote throughout the promotion and the school that generates the most votes per student will receive their choice of 50 brand new footballs, basketballs, volleyballs or soccer balls for the athletic department.

“Red Gold is clearly committed in helping high schools sports in Indiana,” said IHSAA Communications Director Chris Kaufman.  “Being a third generation home-grown, Indiana-based company that is built on family values with a focus on community...makes Red Gold a great partner for all schools.  We are very proud to have them aboard again this year.”

Red Gold is a premier full-line tomato processing company with its corporate headquarters located in Orestes, Indiana. The company operates state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Elwood, Orestes and Geneva, Indiana, as well as RGT Logistics in Elwood, Indiana. Red Gold produces premium quality canned tomatoes and tomato-based products for the retail, foodservice, private label, and club channels of distribution. The Red Gold family of consumer brands includes Red Gold, Redpack, Tuttorosso, and Sacramento. Exceptional quality and operational excellence are the shared values that contributed to the employee-created mission statement: “To produce the freshest, best tasting tomato products in the world.”

For general company information, visit the IHSAA website at www.ihsaa.org and click on the Red Gold® link or go directly to http://www.redgold.com

IHSAA 09-10/03