Tucker Barnhart To Host Fantasy Football Challenge

Reds catcher Tucker Barnhart is hosting a fantasy football challenge and has invited teammates Zack Cozart, Devin Mesoraco, Dan Straily, Tyler Holt and Josh Smith to join him.
Big League Impact is bringing its winning formula to Cincinnati on Wednesday, August 24 for a Fantasy Football live draft. The event will take place in The Handlebar at Great American Ball Park from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.. Fans then will have the opportunity to compete against a Red throughout the entire NFL season.
Proceeds benefit the Big League Impact Global Initiative (www.bigleagueimpact.org), the Reds Community Fund (www.reds.com/community) and the Humane Society of Indianapolis (http://www.indyhumane.org/).
Fans can register at www.bigleagueimpact.org. The deadline to enter is August 22 at 8:00 p.m. ET.
Participants will be treated to a VIP ballpark experience that includes drafting and playing fantasy football against a Reds player, a tour of the ballpark, team photos, autographed memorabilia, limited edition BLI merchandise, batting practice viewing, seats to the game and the chance to win an autographed Tucker Barnhart BLI jersey and other prizes.
"I'm excited to host the Big League Impact Fantasy Football Challenge in Cincinnati." Barnhart said. "We also should thank Skip Schumaker, who hosted the event here the last two years. It's a great way to raise money for three very important causes."
Founded by Adam Wainwright and his brother Trey, Big League Impact started with a single Fantasy Football charity event in 2013 and has expanded to eight MLB cities: San Francisco, New York, St. Louis, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh and Miami. This year's roster of participating current and former MLB players has reached 60 and includes Hunter Pence, John Smoltz, Kyle Gibson, Cliff Floyd, David Wright and Jared Hughes. BLI has raised more than $1 million in support of 18 local charities and made a major impact around the globe.
"The growth we've seen in Big League Impact this year is really exciting," said Wainwright. "We hope that this is only the beginning. If 10 percent of all the money spent on professional sports were given to effective charities, we could end world poverty seven times over."
This year, 25 percent of all funds raised from BLI charity events went towards the Big League Impact Global Initiative, which is dedicated to making the largest impact possible for international communities in need.