April 15, 2008
Gary Davidson
Public Information Officer

SHERIFF JOHNSON PLANS ARENA FOOTBALL PUBLIC SAFETY FAMILY DAY WITH 
THE DAYTONA BEACH THUNDERBIRDS  

A day of family fun and high-excitement professional arena football are on tap for this Sunday in Daytona Beach. And best of all, part of the proceeds from ticket sales will help fund programs that serve at-risk children throughout the state -- thanks to a Public Safety Family Day being organized by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office. The family funfest will take place outside the Ocean Center, immediately preceding kick-off of an arena football game featuring the Daytona Beach ThunderBirds and in-state rival Florida Firecats. 

The Public Safety Family Day will include a 3-hour, pre-game event outside the Ocean Center featuring static displays of police and public safety equipment. In addition to the Sheriff’s Office, other agencies scheduled to participate in the event include county departments of corrections, fire services, emergency management, beach services and animal control. Each participating agency will have personnel on hand to meet the public, explain the use of their equipment and answer questions. 

The family day events are scheduled to get under way at noon. Game time inside the Ocean Center is 3 p.m. and will kick off with a welcome to football fans from Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson, followed by the National Anthem performed by country music artist and Fox 35 meteorologist Jim Van Fleet. Other activities will include a halftime demonstration by the Sheriff’s Office’s SWAT Team and a post-game get-together at Gilly’s Pub 44 on Main Street in Daytona Beach, where families will be able to meet Daytona Beach ThunderBirds players, dancers and staff immediately following the conclusion of the game and enjoy food and drink specials as part of the celebration. “This will be a great way for the public to come out and show their support for the Daytona Beach ThunderBirds and the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches,” said Sheriff Johnson. “It’s going to be a fun day for fans of all ages.” 

The Public Safety Family Day is being coordinated by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office’s Charity Committee. A number of local businesses, area organizations and civic groups have also gotten behind the effort, including Beachside Neighborhood Watch, Black Crow Media Group, Daytona Beach Hotel/Motel Association, Daytona Lagoon, Hometown News, Image Makers Advertising and the Volusia Pennysaver. The primary mission of the Sheriff’s Office’s Charity Committee is to raise funds to help support the non-profit Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches. The Youth Ranches provides a wide assortment of community-based residential care, family counseling, camping programs and foster care to neglected, abused and at-risk children throughout Florida. Last year, the VCSO Charity Committee hosted a fishing tournament in New Smyrna Beach that raised $115,000 for the Youth Ranches. 

Thirty students from the Youth Ranches will be special guests at Sunday’s football game, the fourth in Daytona Beach ThunderBirds’ inaugural season in the af2, or arenafootball2 league. Tickets for the lower bowl are $15 for adults and $10 for children 15 and under. Current or retired public safety employees with agency identification and college students with school identification will be able to purchase lower bowl tickets at the children's rate, which provides a $5 discount. Regular priced tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com. Discounted tickets must be purchased at the Ocean Center Box Office located at 101 N. Atlantic Ave. in Daytona Beach. Box Office hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Monday through Friday. Tickets may be purchased on the day of the game. For information only, please call (386) 254-4545.