Matt Leinart scores big with pediatric patients during visit to Banner Children's Hospital at Banner Desert Medical Center
Quarterback reaffirms $500,000 pledge for hospital's expansion

PHOENIX, Ariz. (October 19, 2007) -- Matt Leinart visited pediatric patients at Banner Children's Hospital at Banner Desert Medical Center yesterday, bringing cheer to the community's smallest and most vulnerable patients.  The injured quarterback easily related to the hospitalized children, sharing his own story and providing encouragement for the kids to keep a positive attitude. 

Leinart's visit to the hospital reinforced his already-significant commitment to Banner Health and to children in the East Valley . this year, the NFL star pledged a half-million dollar gift to Banner Children's Hospital at Banner Desert Medical Center through the Matt Leinart Foundation. The $500,000 donation will benefit the Through the Eyes of a Child   Capital Campaign, to support the expansion of Banner Children's Hospital at Banner Desert in Mesa including building a new 7-story pediatric patient tower. 

"This community has welcomed me with open arms, and I'm honored to say thank you by investing both time and money in health care for kids," said Matt Leinart. "Making sure kids have access to great care should be our top priority, and my partnership with Banner Children's Hospital at Banner Desert Medical Center will bring more pediatric services to the Valley."

The nonprofit Banner Children's Hospital at Banner Desert Medical Center currently provides comprehensive pediatric care to residents throughout Maricopa County. Highly-skilled and compassionate pediatric staff and a full array of pediatric specialty physicians meet the diverse childhood health care needs of our community. As the population of Maricopa County continues to grow at unprecedented levels, so does the need for additional pediatric hospital services. The new tower dedicated to Banner Children's is part of a major expansion at, to substantially increase the pediatric services available to this growing region.

The Through the Eyes of a Child Capital Campaign is a $15 million effort launched earlier this year by the Banner Health Foundation to enlist philanthropic support for the $300 million children's hospital project at.

"Though Matt's only been in the Valley for little over a year, he's already shown a strong desire to give back where the need is greatest -- helping kids," said Andy Kramer, president and CEO, Banner Health Foundation.  "We are so grateful for his commitment to the children's hospital, as it reflects his confidence in Banner's ability to address the needs of children in our community."

About Banner Children's Hospital at Banner Desert Medical Center
Banner Children's Hospital at Banner Desert Medical Center provides comprehensive pediatric care for children of all ages. The hospital provides a full range of services, including emergency care, general pediatrics, intensive care and community education on child health topics. The hospital is a member of the National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions (NACHRI).

About Banner Health Foundation
Banner Health Foundation fosters a spirit of giving by making health care solutions a reality for our community.  Contributions made to the Foundation are invested locally in the nonprofit Banner Health's facilities and programs to advance health and wellness. Caring for the future of Arizona since 1978, Banner Health Foundation is supported by the generosity of individual donors, the public and private sectors, and thousands of active volunteers.

Matt Leinart visited the 4th grade class at Balsz Elementary School in Pheonix AZ .. Matt spent time talking with the kids, signing autographs, and making paper turkeys out of construction paper. The Matt Leinart Foundation gave 50 kids that day a 50 dollar gift certificate to provide a Thanksgiving dinner for the children and their families to enjoy.

Megan Finnerty
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 31, 2008

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart hosted The Hills star Brody Jenner, pop star Nick Lachey and baseball player Reggie Sanders among hundreds of others at his Welcome to Arizona party Wednesday night at Olive & Ivy at the Scottsdale Waterfront.

Leinart, wearing a dark suit but no tie, mingled during the live and silent auctions where current and past pro footballers and Valley socialites bid on a $25,000 Haimov watch, tickets to the Super Bowl and a trip to Idaho's Fairmont Tamarack, among other items to benefit the Matt Leinart Foundation's work with children.

"This is such a great cause," said Johnjay, of 104.7 KISS FM's Johnjay and Rich Show. "What the Matt Leinart Foundation does for children is unbelievable. He's got the biggest heart when it comes to kids."

Kelsey Perry
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 1, 2008

The Patriots' perfect season gives them every reason in the world to come to the Valley with confidence. But if Matt Leinart and the Cardinals have anything to say about it, the streak ends in Arizona.

The Patriots - the one's hailing from Los Angeles, not New England - are coached by rapper Snoop Dogg. They're also only in elementary school.

The team will face off against Leinart and the Chandler Cardinals in Snoop Bowl VI at 1 p.m. Saturday at Hamilton High School in Chandler.

The Chandler Cardinals were assembled from the Chandler Youth Football and Cheer Association. Snoop's All-Star Patriots were pulled from the Snoop Youth Football League in California. Snoop organized the football league to make the game an affordable option for inner-city youths.

"They stay ready, they don't have to get ready," Snoop said of his Patriots. "We've prepared ourselves for this the whole season."

Along with the name, Snoop's miniature Pats have brought all the hype of the life-size dynasty when they traveled from California on Friday.

"I'm Bill Belichick. I've won three Super Bowls," the rapper said, "We go into it with the mentality of the Patriots. We're undefeated. We're 14-0."

Despite being friends with Leinart since the quarterback's days at the University of Southern California, Snoop said he'll show no mercy on the field.

"Matt's a great guy, but we're going to have to do our thing out there in the heat of the battle," he said.

Snoop's team may have a flawless record, but the Chandler Cardinals have hometown advantage and a whole lot of heart, Chandler Youth Football coach Derrick Stinson said.

"The kids are real excited and they're ready to go," he said of his team, which includes an offense stacked four running backs deep. "I think we're really going to put up some points."

Leinart donated replica jerseys to the Cardinals and their quarterback, Dylan Cowas, will even don Leinart's No. 7.

"They're really taking a lot of pride in it," he said, "The really want to do a good show for (Leinart)."

In addition to the array of celebrities expected on the sidelines at Hamilton Saturday, Snoop said fans will get a glimpse at some future stars, as well.

"Anything I do is a celebrity event," Snoop said, laughing. "It's a football weekend; why not watch a bunch of future NFL stars come out and play?"

All the money from ticket sales at Saturday's game will go to benefit the Matt Leinart Foundation for disadvantaged youths.

Though he plans on taking home a victory, Snoop, a father of three, said he knows the memories the players will create from being a part the Super Bowl experience is the true prize.

"It's beautiful and I'm glad they're willing to have us," he said. "We just wanted to do something to help the kids."

Mike Tulumello
Easty Valley Tribune

The Cardinals have a new scout. It wouldn't be quite right to call him a grizzled old football hand, though he often has a five o'clock shadow. He is Matt Leinart.

In the two months since he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury at St. Louis, Leinart has morphed into a studious behind-the-scenes worker. He helps the Cardinals coaches and the team's offense by studying videotape while working to be ready to play next season.

"I come in every morning. I'm here every day. I go to the team meeting and all that stuff.

"I spend a couple hours every morning breaking down film. I try to help Kurt (Warner) out and the coaches.

"But I really help myself out by learning defenses. … I'm learning a lot, trying to use this situation as a positive and get a head start on next year."

Questions were raised at the season's start regarding Leinart's commitment level.

But that's not the case now. Coach Ken Whisenhunt praised Leinart at length for staying involved with the team and helping where he can.

"Matt has been in here busting his rear end," Whisenhunt said.

In general, the Cardinals' biggest goal was to try to keep him involved with the team. Warner, who knows all about injuries, pointed to this in the aftermath of Leinart's injury.

So far that's what's happened.

Whisenhunt said, "He's at all the team meetings. He's around the team, which is important.

"He's also getting better as a quarterback, because he's studying opponents, especially the guys we're playing..

"He's giving us reports on what he sees, which has been very helpful."

And it helps himself.

"The biggest thing, especially as a young player, is learning how to study your opponents," Whisenhunt said.

Not only does he watch videotape, but he focuses on reading defenses, including various coverages and blitzes, and how to counter them.

"This has been invaluable for him. And he's really done a good job."

This work should help Leinart in the future "because now he understands what he has to do in-season as he's playing," Whisenhunt said.

Leinart said the only thing he's not doing is practicing and playing.

He works mostly on his legs and his footwork because the injury has limited his upper-body work.

Leinart maintains his close working relationship with Warner, just "not for eight hours a day every day," Warner said.

"The relationship doesn't change. We continue to be good friends."

Leinart is traveling with the team, "and we still room together," Leinart said. "I still kick his butt in Scrabble … well, just kidding."

Joked Leinart, "He's still a grouch sometimes, but he's playing well and giving us a chance to win.

"I'm rooting for him. He's doing a great job."

Doug Haller
The Arizona Republic
Nov. 16, 2007

The Pat Tillman Foundation launched an initiative Friday that will recognize pro athletes not so much for performance, but for their character, integrity and spirit.

Diamondbacks outfielder Eric Byrnes, Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart, Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky and Mercury guard Diana Taurasi joined "Team Tillman," which will honor athletes and coaches for who they are away from sports.

"We believe that Pat was truly a great person on and off the field," Laura Burgis, a foundation executive, said at a kickoff event in Paradise Valley.

"Today there are a lot of athletes who don't see themselves as role models or as heroes for the kids. So we are developing (this as) a chance to honor professional athletes across sports, to really raise the bar in professional athleticism."

Gretzky and Taurasi could not attend Friday's event, but Byrnes and Leinart were there. Both were thrilled with the invitation, mostly because of what Tillman - a former Cardinals defensive back and U.S. Army Ranger - accomplished before his death.

"I'm no way near perfect on the field or off, but I strive to be," Byrnes said. "As a professional athlete, you get so many charities that come up. . . . But never before have I put my heart into something until the Tillman family came to me."

Leinart said: "I have my own charity and my own foundation, but if you get approached to be a part of Team Tillman, knowing what Pat Tillman stood for and lived for . . . it was very easy and an honor for me to be a part of this."

Burgis said Team Tillman would start with local athletes, but the goal is for the program to stretch across the country.