FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT:Jackie VosClose the Gap/Boston Scientific952-346-6321

CROSSROADS CLASSIC MEN’S HOOPS TOURNAMENT TO FEATURE PURDUE, BUTLER, INDIANA, NOTRE DAME

Close the Gap Stamps Name on First-Time Event as Title Sponsor

INDIANAPOLIS (Nov. XX, 2011) – The inaugural Close the Gap Crossroads Classic comes to

Indianapolis’ Conseco Fieldhouse on Saturday, Dec. 17. It will feature the hoops finesse of four

of the state’s storied basketball programs in a double-header format reminiscent of the Hoosier

Classic last hosted in December 1959.

Close the Gap, a cardiovascular educational initiative of Boston Scientific, will serve as title

sponsor for this one-day hoops showdown. The partnership will provide unprecedented visibility

for Close the Gap. Close the Gap aims to educate, equip and empower individuals and

communities to reduce disparities in cardiovascular care for women, black Americans and

Latino Americans.

Local cardiologists and other healthcare professionals will be on site at Conseco Fieldhouse on

December 17th to answer questions at an informational booth and provide free heart health risk

assessment tests. Additionally, free heart health screenings will be provided to all game day

attendees by Community Health Hospital volunteers.

An estimated 18,000 fans and alumni from the four universities are expected to be at Conseco

Fieldhouse to cheer on their respective team. BCA Properties, a Learfield Sports’ entity which

assists the Black Coaches & Administrators with its marketing partnerships, secured the Close

the Gap relationship.

The men’s hoops action starts at 2 p.m. EST, with Purdue playing Butler, followed by a 4:30

p.m. tip of Indiana vs. Notre Dame. The games can be seen on CBS and ESPN, respectively.

Limited tickets are available at the Conseco Fieldhouse Box Office. Charge by phone through

Ticketmaster, 800-745-3000 or at Ticketmaster.com

“We’re proud to title sponsor this unique showcase event and to be affiliated with four, stellar

basketball teams,” said Chevy Cleaves, Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion for Boston

Scientific. “This partnership presents an excellent opportunity for Close the Gap to promote

heart health and increase awareness of the number one killer of all Americans - heart disease.”

Close the Gap is led by a steering committee of leading physicians and health care providers

from across the country. Several organizations support efforts to address disparities in

cardiovascular care and work actively with the Close the Gap initiative, including National

Collegiate Athletic Association member schools, WomenHeart, Black Coaches &

Administrators, the Association of Black Cardiologists, the Fritz Pollard Alliance and the Sudden

Cardiac Arrest Association.

For more information about disparities in cardiovascular care, tips for living a heart healthy life

and a free heart disease risk assessment, please visit Close the Gap online at www.your ‐ heart-

health.com. Information about Close the Gap news and events can be found on our Facebook

and Twitter pages.

About Close the Gap

Close the Gap is a Boston Scientific educational initiative designed to educate, equip and

empower communities and individuals to reduce disparities in cardiovascular care for women,

black Americans and Latino Americans. Close the Gap also aims to bring awareness to sudden

cardiac arrest (SCA) being the leading cause of death among young athletes. For more

information on Close the Gap, please visit www.your ‐ heart-health.com .

About Boston Scientific

Boston Scientific is a worldwide developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical devices

whose products are used in a broad range of interventional medical specialties. For more

information, please visit www.bostonscientific.com.

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