The referees began their historic weekend by celebrating that which lies at the heart of their foundation: charity and education. On Friday morning, nine of the refs joined Chicago’s Mayor Richard M. Daley for a press conference at Englewood High School on the City’s South Side. Mayor Daley welcomed the conference to Chicago, and lauded the referees for their focus on education, evidenced by the events they would hold later that day. From there, the referees headed to La Rabida Children’s Hospital, where they spent time getting to know patients, parents and hospital staff, and presented the children gifts donated by Nickelodeon. The group then returned to the South Side and held a referee mini-camp for about 50 Englewood High School student athletes, where they discussed alternative careers in athletics, and what it takes to be a professional in any realm.