TEAM INTERNATIONAL CAPTURES 2014 NOTAH BEGAY III FOUNDATION CHALLENGE VICTORY

Verona, N.Y. (Aug. 27, 2014) – Today an extraordinary performance led Team International to claim the 2014 Notah Begay III Foundation Challenge (NB3 Challenge) title over a competitive field of world-class PGA TOUR golfers at Turning Stone Resort Casino’s Atunyote Golf Club in Verona, N.Y. Louis Oosthuizen and Angel Cabrera teamed up with Jonas Blixt and Jhonattan Vegas, carding a 20-under par, two shots clear of the runner-up in the combined best ball tournament. The true champions of the event are the children who will benefit from the funds raised by the Notah Begay III Foundation (NB3F) in support of its mission to improve the health and wellness of Native American communities.

“Once again, this event has been a truly impressive display of how passion and collaboration can help the Foundation educate the public and raise funds to combat the obesity and type 2 diabetes epidemics facing Indian Country,” said the NB3 Challenge host, four-time PGA TOUR winner and NBC Sports/Golf Channel Analyst Notah Begay III. “My sincerest gratitude goes out to all the talented athletes, the golf fans of Central New York, and our friends and partners – the Oneida Indian Nation.”

Oosthuizen and Cabrera controlled their match with a score of 11-under, ultimately leading Team International to outpace Team USA comprised of Erik Compton, Patrick Reed, Jimmy Walker and Begay. Enthusiastic Central New York golf fans lined the ropes to cheer on the eight elite golfers, who represent five countries and a combined 17 PGA TOUR wins including three Major titles.

“While I’m incredibly grateful to my teammates for helping earn us the trophy today, I’m also extremely humbled by the opportunity to use my talents to help elevate the needs of Native American children,” said Oosthuizen, representing the winning team. “Childhood obesity is a national health crisis and Native American children have the highest prevalence of any population in the U.S. – a startling reality. Thanks to Notah, my teammates and all the players for helping bring this issue to light, and to the Notah Begay III Foundation for creating solutions to reverse this statistic.”

The largest fundraising event of its kind in Indian Country, the real impact of the NB3 Challenge happens off the course. All proceeds help NB3F advance its mission of reducing obesity and type 2 diabetes and supporting leadership development among Native American children. Over the past six years, with the help of many elite golfers, passionate fans and strong partners, the event has raised more than $5 million. Turning Stone Resort Casino, which hosts the tournament, is an economic enterprise of the Oneida Indian Nation, and has provided generous support to NB3F for many years.

“Today is a shining example of how Notah and his Foundation can build a bridge connecting Indian Country with the key supporters and resources necessary to better the lives of our children,” said Oneida Indian Nation Representative Ray Halbritter. “We’re extremely proud to call this year’s Challenge another success, knowing that the funds raised will help impact the health and wellness of our future generations of Native Americans.”

This year’s tournament marks a notable transformation in the core work of NB3F, as it moves from running programs to its current focus of empowering Indian Country to drive solutions in its own communities through a model of strategic grant making, research and advocacy. This shift began one year ago at the 2013 NB3 Challenge with the launch of Native Strong: Healthy Kids, Healthy Futures, a national initiative that since has provided seed money to 20 tribal communities across seven states. The funds generated and partnerships strengthened at the 2014 event will allow NB3F to continue to expand and help Native communities lead the fight against the public health crisis facing its children.

For more information about NB3F, its work in Native communities and the NB3 Challenge, visit: www.nb3foundation.org or donate online atwww.igg.me/at/NB3FChallenge.

Key Background

In 2005, Notah Begay III (Navajo/San Felipe/Isleta Pueblos) a 4-time PGA TOUR winner and current NBC Sports/Golf Channel Analyst, established the Notah Begay III Foundation (NB3 Foundation), a 501©3 non-profit organization that works to address the profound health and wellness issues impacting Native American children.  The mission of the NB3 Foundation is to reduce childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes among Native American children. The NB3 Foundation is setting a standard for investing in promising and community-driven programs, research and advocacy that can prevent obesity and type 2 diabetes ensuring healthy and successful futures for Native American children and their communities. This holistic approach seeks to increase Native American communities’ access to healthy and affordable food, nutrition education, physical activity and opportunities to build healthy communities with goal of reversing the epidemics of childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes. To date, the NB3 Foundation has served over 20,000 Native people in 13 states.

For more information on Notah Begay III and the NB3 Foundation, visit:www.nb3foundation.org.

A premier four-season, destination resort in Upstate New York, the Oneida Indian Nation’s Turning Stone Resort Casino is conveniently located about 30 miles east of Syracuse at NYS Thruway exit 33. Turning Stone was named “Most Excellent Golf Resort” in 2010 by Condé Nast Johansens. The Academy of Country Music named Turning Stone “Casino of the Year” in 2009. The resort offers world-class gaming, golf, entertainment, accommodations and spa facilities, and has earned AAA Four Diamond ratings for The Lodge, The Tower Hotel, and Wildflowers restaurant.

For more information and reservations, call (315) 361-7711 or 1-(800) 771-7711. Visit the websites at www.turningstone.com andwww.oneidaindiannation.com

The Oneida Indian Nation is a federally recognized Indian nation in Central New York. A founding member of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy (also known as the Six Nations or Iroquois Confederacy), the Oneida Indian Nation sided with the Americans in the Revolutionary War and was thanked by Congress and President George Washington for its loyalty and assistance. Today, the Oneida Nation consists of about 1,000 enrolled Members, most of them living in Central New York. The Nation’s enterprises, which employ 4,500 people, include Turning Stone Resort Casino, the SāvOn chain of gas stations and convenience stores, RV Park, three marinas, Indian Country Today Media Network – the premier national multi-media source for American Indian news and information, and Four Directions Productions – a 3D animation HD cinematography studio. Proceeds from these enterprises are used to rebuild the Nation’s economic base and provide essential services, including housing, health care, and education incentives and programs, to its Members.

For more information, visit the Nation’s website www.oneidaindiannation.com.