Event to be rescheduled in an effort to provide golf fans the best opportunity
to catch Tiger Woods and world-class field participate in benefit for Native American Youth 

Verona, N.Y. – (June 22, 2011) – Notah Begay III, a four-time PGA TOUR winner, today announced that the fourth annual Notah Begay III (NB3) Foundation Challenge, slated to take place on Tuesday, July 5 at Turning Stone Resort’s Atunyote Golf Club on Oneida Indian Nation lands near Vernon, N.Y., has been postponed. An announcement addressing a new event date, and any changes to the format and playing field, will come at a later date.

 Begay and Foundation executives made the decision to postpone the NB3 Foundation Challenge in order to provide Tiger Woods, who has committed to play but is still recovering from injuries, the best opportunity to participate.

 “I’m honored that Tiger agreed to participate in this year’s event,” said Begay. “He believes in our mission and is a huge draw for fans. Obviously, we want Tiger to be a part of the event, and are hopeful that the postponement will give him the opportunity to heal and be ready when we do tee it up.”

 The friendship between Begay and Woods dates back to Stanford University, where Begay, a three-time All-American, and Woods were teammates and roommates in the mid-1990s.

 "While I am disappointed that I will not be able to participate in Notah’s Foundation Challenge in July, I certainly hope to reschedule,” said Woods. “Notah is a great personal friend of mine and his Foundation does wonderful things. It is a privilege to help.”

 PGA TOUR star Rickie Fowler was to join Begay and Woods along with NFL quarterbacks Tony Romo of the Dallas Cowboys and Sam Bradford of the St. Louis Rams and three other participants from the world of sports in the two-person, best-ball 18-hole shootout. All proceeds from the tournament were to go directly to benefit the Notah Begay III Foundation in an effort to raise awareness and funding for the improved health and wellness of Native American youth on Indian reservations nationwide.

"While I am disappointed with the postponement of the NB3 Challenge, I remain fully committed to bringing a world-class event to Turning Stone and the golf fans of Central New York this year," Begay said.  "This event is paramount in my mission to battle obesity and Type 2 diabetes among Native youths, and it is driven by the generous support I receive from my friends in the golf world."

The NB3 Foundation will continue to work with its partner, the Oneida Indian Nation, to determine the best available new date to host the event, which has raised more than $2.4 million through its first three years at Atunyote.

“Like all golf fans, I wish Tiger a speedy recovery and look forward to his return to the game of golf,” said Ray Halbritter, Oneida Nation Representative and CEO of Nation Enterprises. “The Oneida Indian Nation is pleased to host this wonderful golf event at our Atunyote Golf Club to benefit the Notah Begay III Foundation. Tiger’s commitment to return to Turning Stone to participate in this event demonstrates his unwavering support of the Foundation. The Oneida Indian Nation is proud of our ongoing partnership with Notah in improving the lives of American Indian youth throughout the country.”

Ticketholders who already have purchased tickets for the NB3 Foundation Challenge can keep their tickets for use on the new date. Following the announcement surrounding a new event date, tickets can be exchanged in advance or on the day of the event at the Turning Stone Box Office. Tickets on hold at Will Call will automatically be exchanged for the new event date.

Ticketholders seeking a refund should contact the Turning Stone Box Office for further instructions and information at 315-361-7469. Tickets purchased via credit card will be refunded upon request and presentation of tickets, on the original card of purchase. If you purchased by cash, please bring your tickets to the Turning Stone Box Office with proof of ID to obtain a cash refund. The Box Office hours are Monday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The Notah Begay III Foundation was founded in 2005 by Begay, the only full-blooded Native American on the PGA TOUR. In an effort to make a difference in the lives of Native American youth, the Foundation took on the mission to reduce the incidences of childhood obesity and Type 2 diabetes, and promote the leadership development of Native American youth. The NB3 Foundation Challenge is the organization’s largest fund-raiser and has helped launch and support the model golf and soccer programs it is striving to implement across Indian Country.

For more information about the NB3 Foundation Challenge, visit: www.nb3challenge.com.

Key Background

About Notah Begay III Foundation

In 2005, Notah Begay III established the Notah Begay III (NB3) Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Notah established the Foundation to address the profound health and wellness issues impacting Native American youth and to empower those youth and help them realize their potential as tomorrow’s leaders. The mission of the Foundation is to reduce the incidences of obesity and diabetes and advance the lives of Native American youth through sports and wellness programming. To this end, the mission the Foundation supports is the development of sustainable, evidence-based and innovative soccer and golf programs designed by Native Americans for Native American youth that promote physical fitness, wellness and leadership development.

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

About Turning Stone Resort Casino

A premier four-season, destination resort, 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. Turning Stone's entertainment and meeting venues include the 5,000-seat Event Center, the 800-seat Showroom, LAVA-Dance Club and the Conference Center.

For more information and reservations, call (315) 361-7711 or 1-(800) 771-7711. Visit the websites at TurningStone.com and OneidaIndianNation.com

About the Oneida Indian Nation

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 and the official blog www.WovenNotesblog.com.

# # #