[New Albany, Wednesday, April 16, 2008] – The New Albany Classic Signature Series is announcing today the schedule for the 10th season of community events sponsored by New Albany Company, New Albany Realty and the Wexner Family through a grant to The New Albany Community Foundation. Since inception, the Signature Series has drawn thousands of guests from all over Central Ohio for a variety of events, including fundraisers, concerts, and sporting events.

The ninth annual Homeless Families Foundation event will be hosted by Melanie & Michael DeAscentis, Jr. in New Albany. All proceeds from the evening benefit the Homeless Families Foundation, which provides shelter, support, stability and nurturing for Central Ohio’s homeless children and their families. Hors d’oeuvres and cocktails will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a program at 7:30 p.m. In 2007, the Homeless Families Foundation helped stabilize 345 families and 733 children.

For the second year in a row, the New Albany Walking Classic, a premier event for the New Albany Walking Club, will be a part of the Signature Series. This event allows participants to walk for competition or recreation. A new twist to the Walking Classic will be the Mount Carmel Health & Fitness Expo that will take place at the Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts, Friday and Saturday prior to the event on Sunday, September 21st. This year the event will also consist of two distances – a 10K walk (6.2 miles) and a half marathon walk (13.1 miles) which participants in each distance will start at the same time but the half marathon will branch off around mile 6. For more information on participation and details on this event, please visit www.newalbanywalkingclassic.com. Early registration is encouraged for this popular event.

As always, the New Albany Classic Invitational Grand Prix & Family Day will once again offer an exciting day of rides, music, food and a world-class equestrian competition that is held on the Wexner's property in New Albany on September 28th. The event has raised more than $15 million to support the work of the Columbus Coalition Against Family Violence, an organization whose vision is to break the cycle of family violence in the Central Ohio community. For more information, please visit the website at www.thenewalbanyclassic.com.

Anchoring the Signature Series will be The New Albany Community Foundation annual gala, “A Remarkable Evening” which supports important New Albany initiatives such as the Library Book Collection, the Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts and other enriching programs. Past guest lecturers have included Pulitzer Prize winning authors Doris Kearns Goodwin and David McCullough, the late playwright Wendy Wasserstein, Irish Tenor Dr. Ronan Tynan, and Academy Award winning author John Irving. This year’s prominent speaker will be announced in the summer.

The complete 2008 Signature Series schedule is as follows:

The Four Aces Fundraiser to benefit New Albany Students’ pursuits in Academics, the Arts, Athletics and general Achievement
Saturday, May 3, 2008
One Whitebarn Road

The Homeless Families Foundation Benefit
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
8 Hawksmoor Road

Music in Lambton Park featuring TBA Family Concert
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Lambton Park

Music at Market Square featuring the Columbus Jazz Arts Group and New Albany Chamber Taste of New Albany
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Market Square

New Albany Walking Classic
Sunday, September 21, 2008
New Albany

New Albany Classic Invitational Grand Prix & Family Day
Sunday, September 28, 2008
One Classic Drive

A Remarkable Evening Feature speaker to be announced
Thursday, December 4, 2008
One Whitebarn Road

For more information, visit www.newalbanyclassic.com

Initiated in 1999, the New Albany Classic Signature Series is a program of community-based activities presented each year in New Albany. Developed and supported by the New Albany Company, New Albany Realty and the Wexner family through a grant to the New Albany Community Foundation, the series contributes to the quality of life for families in New Albany and beyond by presenting events and activities that emphasize health and wellness, cultural appreciation, life-long learning, and concern for the greater good.

Additional information on the Signature Series is available by calling 614/416-7100 or by logging on to www.newalbanysignatureseries.com.