Tornados at Gold's Gym with Super Bowl Champion Coach

Former Colt and Super Bowl Champion Appearing at Gold’s Gym
Ray Donaldson giving back to the community through coaching minor league football and through upcoming autograph signing appearance

For release- May 23, 2010

INDIANAPOLIS- On Tuesday, May 25, 2010, Gold’s Gym will be having a double celebration. The gym celebrates its three year anniversary, but more importantly, Gold’s will be having its Indy Kickoff Fundraiser for the American Diabetes Association. The day-long event will feature a yoga class fundraiser, a spinning class fundraiser, a blood drive, free blood pressure screenings, a raffle, food, drinks, and entertainment. The celebration begins at 10 a.m. with the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting. Gold’s Gym is located at 8401 North Michigan Road.

The Gold’s Gym anniversary party will feature numerous celebrity appearances, including Ray Donaldson, a former Baltimore Colt, Indianapolis Colt, Seattle Seahawk, and Dallas Cowboy. He was a six-time National Football League Pro Bowl selection and a Super Bowl champion with the Cowboys. Donaldson said that it’s hard to describe the excitement that fills you when your team is crowned Super Bowl champions.

“I only had two winning seasons in my 15 year career, and then I won one (Super Bowl) my first time around with Dallas,” Donaldson said. “It was like after a long, hard road I had finally arrived.”

A Georgia native, Donaldson was also inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 2006. “I was Georgia born, Georgia bred, and when I die, I’ll be Georgia dead,” said Donaldson laughing.

With his family roots still grounded in Indianapolis, Donaldson returned to the “Hoosier State” when his pro-football career ended. He became a part owner of the Indianapolis Tornados minor league football team in 2002. Since then, the Tornados have fallen under new management, and Donaldson decided to stay on the staff as a coach for the team. He referred to it as his “second time around with the Tornados.” Donaldson gets enjoyment out of being a coach, but he said that nothing compares to the on-field experience he had in the NFL.

“Nothing matches that excitement and adrenaline rush, but at the same time I feel that accomplishment of getting through to the players and seeing their improvement on the field because of my coaching,” Donaldson said.

Donaldson will be present at the anniversary party representing the Tornados and signing autographs for the fans, along with numerous players of the organization.

The Indianapolis Tornados are a minor league football team with a rich history and an intense commitment to the community. The Tornados won the North American Football League championship in 2008, the largest minor league football organization in the country. Players from top colleges joined the Tornados for a shot at professional aspirations. For more information about the team and organization log on to www.indianapolistornados.com. The home opener is 7 p.m. July 10.