Chicago sports anchor kicks off the nonprofit's Chicagoland Walk With Me event

CHICAGO, Oct. 20, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Easter Seals and NBC sports anchor and former Chicago Bears running back Mike Adamle will kick off Easter Seals' Walk With Me fundraiser beginning at noon today, Sunday, October 20^th, 2013. The 5k family fun walk will bring hundreds of Chicago area participants together at the Great Lawn of Soldier Field to raise funds for Easter Seals services, drive awareness of issues affecting the disability community and change the lives of individuals and families living with autism and other disabilities.

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Adamle will emcee the event, where he will introduce Easter Seals Walk With Me's three ambassador families. The ambassadors, from Easter Seals Metropolitan Chicago, Easter Seals DuPage and the Fox Valley Region and Easter Seals Joliet Region, are all beneficiaries of local Easter Seals services. 

"We are delighted for Mike to serve as the emcee for Easter Seals' big day," said James E. Williams, Jr., president and chief executive officer, Easter Seals. "We know he'll make our Chicago Walk With Me event a huge success."

Since 2003, Easter Seals Walk With Mehas united over 150,000 individual walkers, teams and hundreds of other passionate people in their communities for a day full of entertainment, fun and, of course, its signature walk.  Easter Seals has hosted more than 500 Walk With Me events nationwide, generating over $30 million to support families at Easter Seals. This year, you can help Easter Seals accomplish even more!

Registration for the Chicago Walk With Me will remain open until noon today at www.walkwithme.org. Every individual and team participant is paired with an Easter Seals Honorary Ambassador—a child or adult with a disability who benefits from Easter Seals' local services—and has an opportunity to meet in advance of the event, learn about their personal story, and even cross the Walk With Me finish line together.

"I am excited to be partnering with Easter Seals as emcee for Walk With Me Chicago," said NBC's Mike Adamle.  "The 5k walk will unite hundreds of local participants around a common purpose--helping people with disabilities."

Every participant's motivation to walk is unique; it may be very personal -- for a child of a loved one, a neighbor or a colleague.  Twenty percent of the US population lives with a disability today. We walk for them, their future and the families who love them to help people with disabilities live, learn, work and play in their communities.

About Walk With MeChicago is one of 46 Walk With Me events planned across the country. Last year, thousands of walkers, volunteers, and sponsors including CVS Caremark and CENTURY 21 joined Easter Seals through Walk With Me nationwide toraise more than $3.7 million. Other sponsors include media sponsor Comcast NBC Universal, regional sponsors Amway and MassMutual Financial Group, and local Chicago sponsors including Resolute Consulting, Old Navy, Ametek, Goldman Sachs, MB Financial Bank, Parents magazine, CENTURY 21 Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana Brokers Council, and Easter Seals National Associate Board. For local walk updates, route maps, and additional information about how to get involved visit www.walkwithme.org.

About Easter SealsEaster Seals is the leading non-profit provider of services for individuals with autism, developmental disabilities, physical and mental disabilities and other special needs.  For nearly 100 years, we have been offering help and hope to children and adults living with disabilities, and to the families who love them. Support children and adults with disabilities at www.easterseals.com.

SOURCE Easter Seals

RELATED LINKShttp://www.easterseals.com