EFFORTS FOCUS ON SOCIAL JUSTICE, SUSTAINABILITY, YOUTH WELLNESS, MILITARY APPRECIATION, AMONG OTHER CAUSES
NEW YORK –Super Bowl LVII will impact the Arizona community with more than 30 charitable activities and outreach events that will enrich the community and provide lasting legacies long after the game is played.
Super Bowl Week activities include community projects made possible by NFL Foundation Super Bowl Legacy Grants and the Super Bowl LVII Host Committee, community greening projects, Salute to Service events to honor our military and veterans, NFL PLAY 60 Kids Day and a series of volunteer projects involving the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award presented by Nationwide nominees.
As part of Inspire Change, the league’s social justice initiative, the NFL will work with three local community organizations to address the digital divide and the way it impacts youth. Working with Chicanos Por La Causa, the Greater Phoenix Urban League, and Native American Connections and non-profit Compudopt, the NFL will provide laptops to hundreds of children impacted by unequal access to technology via a grant from the NFL Foundation.
Throughout the week the NFL will honor, empower, and connect with the military community through a number of Salute to Service-centered events. The week will kick off with Military Appreciation Day at Super Bowl Experience presented by Lowe’s followed by the USA Wheelchair Football League Championships. With support from an NFL and Bob Woodruff Foundation Salute to Service grant, Move United started a USA Wheelchair Football League for athletes with disabilities, including veterans. During Super Bowl week, a Championship Game will showcase the sport and invite NFL Legends to serve as honorary captains. NFL representatives will also visit Luke Air Force Base as part of its Community Day to meet and interact with service members from the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force, including the pilots conducting the Super Bowl LVII flyover.
The NFL will support the LGBTQ community throughout the week in Arizona in a number of ways. A Night of Pride with GLAAD, presented by Smirnoff is an evening of music, cocktails, and interview-style conversations with GLAAD, NFL friends, and partners to spotlight advances in and the future of LGBTQ inclusion in professional sports as well as the NFL’s commitment to former and current LGBTQ players and LGBTQ league members. The NFL will also welcome youth and their families from one-n-ten, a Phoenix-area nonprofit dedicated to serving and assisting LGBTQ individuals, for a special flag football clinic, featuring members of the Gay Flag Football League, at Super Bowl Experience. These youth will also receive allyship cards written by current and former NFL players to express their support for them as members of the LGBTQ community.
The Super Bowl LVII Business Connect program brings together 200+ companies who participated in the year-long program designed to bring Super Bowl-related contract opportunities, professional development and networking opportunities to local, diverse businesses in the Phoenix area. In partnership with the Business Connect team and the Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee, the woman, minority, LGBTQ+, and veteran-owned companies in the program worked to participate in both virtual and in-person business development workshops to prepare their businesses to compete for Super Bowl LVII contracts and jobs the game will bring to Arizona.
Business Connect suppliers have secured contracts to work a myriad of jobs over the 10 days of events leading up to Super Bowl LVII including catering, transportation, entertainment, décor, staging, barricades, construction at State Farm Stadium to meet Gameday needs and more.
High school football student-athletes and coacheswill be celebrated by the NFLwith two separate events at the Super Bowl, highlighting the values and fun associated with the game of football, Play Football High School Day at the Super Bowl Experience presented by Lowe’s and the Play Football Family Festival.
The NFL seeks to leave a lasting legacy in the surrounding communities of the Super Bowl host city with the Super Bowl Legacy Grant Program, made possible by an annual $1 million contribution from the NFL Foundation and matched by the Super Bowl Host Committee. This year, the NFL and the Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee will support local nonprofits with proven track records of benefiting underserved Arizonans. Selected nonprofits focus their work within the following pillars: Education: improving access to quality education for youth; Health & Wellness: improving the overall well-being of residents, primarily youth; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Social Justice: driving positive action for equality and accessibility; and Environment & Sustainability: implementing food recovery and recycling initiatives.
SCHEDULE CALENDAR LISTED BY DATE
Events in Phoenix unless otherwise noted
| Date | Name of Event | Topic | Time | Location | Contact |
| Thursday, Feb. 2 | Super Bowl LIV Business Connect Celebration | Business Connect | 5:30-8:30 p.m. | Warehouse 215 (215 E. Grants St.) | BJ Waymer,[email protected] |
| Sunday, Feb. 5 | Military Appreciation Day at SBX | Salute to Service | 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. | Super Bowl Experience Presented by Lowe’s at the Phoenix Convention Center (100 N. 3rd St.) | Dan Lessard,[email protected] |
| Monday, Feb. 6 | Special Olympics Unified Flag Football Game | Community | 1-3 p.m. | Valley Vista High School (15550 N. Parkview Pl, Surprise, Ariz.) | Jordyn White,[email protected] |
| Tuesday, Feb. 7 | NFL Character Playbook Speaker Series Event | Character Education | 9-11 a.m. | Desert Sands Middle School (6308 W. Campbell Ave.) | Jordyn White,[email protected] |
| Tuesday, Feb. 7 | Vincent Country Safe Zone Activity Day | Community | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Bernard Black Entrepreneurial Academy (6550 S. 27th Ave.)) | Traci Otey Blunt,[email protected] |
| Tuesday, Feb. 7 | NFL/American Cancer Society Crucial Catch Health Center Tour | Community | 12-2 p.m. | Adelante Healthcare (13471 W. Cornerstone Blvd, Goodyear, AZ) | Lindsey Shirley at [email protected] |
| Tuesday, Feb. 7 | Salute to Service Wheelchair Football League Championship Game | Salute to Service | 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. | Camelback Ranch (10710 W. Camelback Rd.) | Dan Lessard,[email protected] |
| Tuesday, Feb. 7 | Representation Matters: Increasing Diversity in Sports Business | Social Justice | N/A | Downtown Phoenix | Dean Cline,[email protected] |
| Tuesday, Feb. 7 | Salute to Veterans Night | Salute to Service | 4-6 p.m. | U.S. VETS (12027 N 28th Dr.) | Dan Lessard,[email protected] |
| Tuesday, Feb. 7 | Salute to Service 100 Yards of Hope Screening | NFL Green | 7-9 p.m. | OdySea Aquarium (located in the Arizona Boardwalk, 9500 East Via de Ventura, Scottsdale) | Dan Lessard,[email protected] |
| Wednesday, Feb. 8 | NFL PLAY 60 Kids Day | PLAY 60 – Youth Event | 9:30 a.m.– 12:30 p.m. | Super Bowl Experience presented by Lowe’s at the Phoenix Convention Center (100 N. 3rd St.) | Jordyn White,[email protected] |
| Wednesday, Feb. 8 | Inspire Change Super Bowl Celebration | Inspire Change | 4:30-6:30 p.m. | Kiwanis Park (5500 S Mill Ave, Tempe, AZ 85283) | Morgan Rubin, [email protected] |
| Wednesday, Feb. 8 | A Night of Pride with GLAAD | Diversity, Equity and Inclusion | 7-10 p.m. | Sheraton Downtown Phoenix | Morgan Rubin, [email protected] |
| Wednesday, Feb. 8 | Super Bowl Soulful Celebration | Community | 7:30 p.m. | Mesa Arts Center | Tosha Whitten, [email protected] |
| Thursday, Feb. 9 | Super Bowl Legacy Grant Press Conference | Community | 11:30 a.m. | 1401 E Van Buren St. | Jordyn White,[email protected] |
| Thursday, Feb. 9 | NFL PLAY 60 Super Bowl LVII Fitness Break Broadcast | PLAY 60 – Youth Event | 10 a.m. | VIRTUAL | Linzy Cotaya,[email protected] |
| Thursday, Feb. 9 | Luke Air Force Base Visit | Salute to Service | 11 a.m. | Luke Air Force Base (14185 Falcon St, Luke AFB, AZ 85309) | Dan Lessard,[email protected] |
| Thursday, Feb. 9 | Players Coalition “Media Mornings” | Players Coalition | 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Phoenix Convention Center (100 N. 3rd St.) | Lindsay Means,[email protected] |
| Thursday, Feb. 9 | Fritz Pollard Alliance Foundation will host its 18th Annual Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr., Salute to Excellence Awards | Diversity, Equity and Inclusion | 12 p.m. | Courtyard Phoenix Downtown (132 S. Central Ave.) | Traci Otey Blunt,[email protected] |
| Thursday, Feb. 9 | NFL Unsung Heroes Celebration | Community | 9:30-11:30 a.m. | The Churchill (901 N 1st St.)). | Jordyn White,[email protected] |
| Thursday, Feb. 9 -Friday, Feb. 10 | Players Coalition Fan Food Activations | Players Coalition | 3 p.m. | Phoenix Convention Center (100 N. 3rd St.) | Lindsay Means,[email protected] |
| Thursday, Feb. 9 | One-N-Ten and PGFFL Community Event | Community | 4-6 p.m. | Super Bowl Experience presented by Lowe’s at the Phoenix Convention Center (100 N. 3rd St.) | Jordyn White,[email protected] |
| Thursday, Feb. 9 – Friday, Feb. 11 | CPR Instruction provided by American Heart Association | Community | Super Bowl Experience Operating Hours | Super Bowl Experience Presented by Lowe’s at the Phoenix Convention Center (100 N. 3rd St.) | Linzy Cotaya,[email protected] |
| Friday, Feb. 10 | Super Bowl Career Fair | Player Care Foundation | 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel (100 N. 1st St.) | A’Maiya Allen[email protected] |
| Friday, Feb. 10 | Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Event | Community | 9:30-11:30 a.m. | Bob and Renee Parsons Boys and Girls Club (1601 W Sherman St.)) | Jordyn White.[email protected] |
| Friday, Feb. 10 | Play Football High School Day | Youth Football | 4-7:30 p.m. | Super Bowl Experience Presented by Lowe’s at Phoenix Convention Center (100 N. 3rd St.) | Avis Roper,[email protected] |
| Saturday, Feb. 11 | Super Bowl Breakfast | Award Ceremony | 8-10 a.m. | JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort and Spa (5350 E Marriott Dr.) | Darrin Gray, [email protected] |
| Saturday, Feb. 11 | Play Football Family Festival | Youth Football | 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Hamilton High School (3700 S. Arizona Ave., Chandler, 95248) | Avis Roper,[email protected] |
| Saturday, Feb. 11 | 3rd Annual Madden NFL x HBCU Tournament with EA | HBCU/Gaming | 1 p.m. | NFL YouTube Channel | Liana Bailey,[email protected] |
| Saturday, Feb. 11 | Taste of the NFL | Charity Event | 4-8 p.m. | Chateau Luxe (1175 E. Lone Cactus Dr.) | Eric Slutsky,[email protected] |
SUPER BOWL LVII BUSINESS CONNECT CELEBRATION
The NFL will host its Super Bowl LVII Business Connect Celebration – Opportunity. Teamwork. Success. on Thursday, Feb. 2, from 5:30 – 9 p.m. at Warehouse 215 (215 E. Grants St.). The event is a celebration of the Super Bowl LVII Business Connect program, spotlighting the accomplishments of the 200+ companies who participated in the year-long program designed to bring Super Bowl-related contract opportunities, professional development and networking opportunities to local, diverse businesses in the Phoenix area. In partnership with the Business Connect team and the Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee, the woman, minority, LGBTQ+, and veteran-owned companies in the program worked to participate in both virtual and in-person business development workshops to prepare their businesses to compete for Super Bowl LVII contracts and jobs the game will bring to Phoenix.
Business Connect suppliers have secured contracts to work a myriad of jobs over the 10 days of events leading up to Super Bowl LVII including catering, transportation, entertainment, décor, staging, barricades, construction at State Farm Stadium to meet Gameday needs and more.
The Business Connect Celebration is a private event for participating business owners and NFL vendors who support the program through the contract procurement process. A networking event will kick off the evening, followed by an award program recognizing suppliers and vendors who have excelled in the program. The event will culminate with a handoff ceremony acknowledging Host Committee partners, Jennie Patel and Summer Boland’s’, leadership in the marketplace and introducing the Business Connect programs’ local lead in the Super Bowls’ next market, Las Vegas.
For more information, contact Lesley Miller, AZ Host Committee, at (480) 225-5335 or [email protected] or B.J. Waymer, NFL Business Connect, at (704) 614-6352 or [email protected].
Note: A Week of Game credential and an RSVP is required for media to attend. Media will be able to capture b-roll of the awards presentation, along with interviewing select Business Connect representatives and suppliers.
SALUTE TO SERVICE MILITARY APPRECIATION DAY AT SUPER BOWL EXPERIENCE PRESENTED BY LOWE’S
On Sunday, Feb. 5 from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. at the Super Bowl Experience presented by Lowe’s, the NFL will host Salute to Service Military Appreciation Day for service members and veterans. This day provides free entry to all active-duty service members, veterans and their families that accompany them. Tickets are available at all regular ticketing windows. Salute to Service is the League’s year-round effort to Honor, Empower, and Connect our nation’s service members, veterans, and their families. It is grounded in deep partnerships with nonprofits and organizations that support the military community in the United States and across the world.
For more information, please contact Daniel Lessard at [email protected].
SPECIAL OLYMPICS UNIFIED FLAG GAME
On Monday, Feb. 6 from 1- 3 p.m., NFL and Special Olympics will host a Unified Flag Football exhibition at Valley Vista High School (15550 N Parkview Pl, Surprise, Ariz.). Special Olympics Unified Flag Football pairs individuals with and without intellectual disabilities together to play flag football on the same team.
For more information, please contact Jordyn White at [email protected].
NFL CHARACTER PLAYBOOK SPEAKER SERIES EVENT
On Tuesday, Feb. 7 from 9 – 11 a.m., representatives from the Arizona Cardinals and NFL, in partnership with Valley of the Sun United Way, will participate in a panel event for Character Playbook students at Desert Sands Middle School (6308 W. Campbell Ave.) to discuss the connections between mental and physical wellness. The panel discussion, which also will be hosted virtually for interested Character Playbook classrooms nationwide, will be followed by a PLAY 60 activity component led by The Cooper Institute. Funded by the NFL Foundation and supported locally by Valley of the Sun United Way throughout the year, Character Playbook is a digital education resource that supports positive character development, social-emotional learning, mental wellness and healthy relationships in middle and high school students. The Healthy Relationships program is available nationally to middle school students, while Mental Wellness Basics reaches 1,000 high schools across the country, all free of charge.
For more information, please contact Jordyn White at [email protected].
VINCENT COUNTRY SAFE ZONE ACTIVITY DAY
The Safe Zone Activity Day will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 9 a.m. at the Bernard Black Entrepreneurial Academy (6550 S. 27th Ave.) to provide 500 K-5 school children with a day of fun, food, empowerment, and sports activities led by the Vincent Family, NFL Legends, and special guests. Vincent Country, founded by Troy and Tommi Vincent, is a faith-driven family lifestyle brand committed to positive social impact. CIGNA, in its fifth year sponsoring the Safe Zone Activity Day, will provide free on-site health screenings with the CIGNA Health Improvement Tour (HIT) bus. The mobile clinic will provide FREE health screenings to the parents, faculty, staff, and those 18 and over in the surrounding community. The HIT mobile clinic will provide baseline health screenings from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
For more information, please contact Traci Otey Blunt at [email protected].
NFL ALUMNI PRO-AM
The 2023 NFL Alumni Pro-Am will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at the Silverleaf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz. Former NFL legends including Jonathan Ogden, Marshall Faulk, and Santonio Holmes will lead teams of amateur golfers in the NFL Alumni Pro-Am. The event raises money for the Player Care Foundation in support of NFL Alumni’s mission of ‘Caring for Our Own’.
For more information, please contact Matthew Schulze at [email protected] or 804-839-2013.
SALUTE TO SERVICE WHEELCHAIR FOOTBALL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
With support from an NFL and Bob Woodruff Foundation Salute to Service grant, Move United started a USA Wheelchair Football League for athletes with disabilities, including veterans. The team designed the Wheelchair Football League to closely resemble NFL play-style with adaptations specifically chosen to keep the game fast-paced and highly enjoyable for fans and players alike. During Super Bowl week, a Championship Game, which will showcase the sport and invite NFL Legends to serve as honorary captains, will be held Tuesday, Feb. 7 from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the Camelback Ranch (10710 W. Camelback Rd.).
For more information, contact Dan Lessard at [email protected].
NFL/AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY CRUCIAL CATCH HEALTH CENTER TOUR
The American Cancer Society and NFL invites all credentialed media to join us for a press conference and tour highlighting Crucial Catch-funded cancer screening work in Arizona. Adelante Healthcare is a 2021-22 CHANGE grant recipient. The American Cancer Society’s CHANGE program addresses cancer early detection disparities through community-based programs that increase access to necessary cancer screenings in under-resourced communities. The event will be held at Adelante Healthcare (13471 W Cornerstone Blvd, Goodyear, Ariz.) in the main lobby on Tuesday, Feb. 7 from 12 p.m. – 2 p.m.
Adelante Healthcare leadership, the American Cancer Society, a local NFL player and a local cancer survivor impacted by access to screening will be on site. We also encourage media to take part in a brief tour of the facility. There will also be an on-site health fair/screening event in the parking lot. Since 2009, the NFL and the American Cancer Society (ACS) have teamed up to fight cancer and save lives through Crucial Catch. Money raised through Crucial Catch supports the American Cancer Society’s CHANGE program.
For more information, contact Lindsey Shirley at [email protected].
HACE United: 2023 Executive Tour Launch at Super Bowl LVII
This event convenes members of the Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement (HACE) and engages executives, BRG/ERG members, and community leaders in key regions of the United States. The theme of the series aligns with our 2023 theme- HACE United: Accelerating Equity with Action and Accountability. The event, in partnership with the NFL, will feature executives from the NFL, Nike, Google, and NBC Universal in a moderated panel discussion on their corporate strategies addressing the issues related to the Latino/a/x/e workforce.
Join us in this powerful learning and networking opportunity on Tuesday, Feb. 7 from 4 – 6 p.m. at the Play Football Field of the Phoenix Convention Center.
For more information, contact Morgan Rubin at [email protected].
SALUTE TO VETERANS NIGHT, HOSTED BY THE NFL AND LITTLE CAESARS
In celebration of Super Bowl week, the NFL will come together with its partner, Little Caesars, to host an event for veterans and military families in Phoenix and the surrounding areas. Partnering with Salute to Service partner, the Bob Woodruff Foundation, and NFL-BWF grantee, U.S.VETS, the NFL will reach more than 500 veterans and families providing them with an evening of food, fun and football. Additionally, U.S.VETS – Phoenix will have the opportunity to give their community members a sneak peek of their new headquarters and veteran housing.
Little Caesars will set up The Little Caesars Love Kitchen®, a restaurant on wheels that travels across the U.S. to help feed those in need for attendees to enjoy. Attendees will be able to participate in a number of activities including PLAY 60 stations, corn hole, football toss, etc.
The event will take place from 4-6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 7 in the parking lot of the new U.S.VETS – Phoenix location (12027 N 28th Dr.).
For more information, contact Dan Lessard at [email protected].
SALUTE TO SERVICE SCREENING 100 YARDS OF HOPE
As part of Super Bowl week, the NFL and FORCE BLUE will host a Salute to Service event on Tuesday, Feb. 7, at 7 p.m. at the OdySea Aquarium (located in the Arizona Boardwalk, 9500 East Via de Ventura, Scottsdale) to share the documentary 100 Yards of Hope with 150 Arizona service men and women. The film focuses on the unique partnership between the NFL, Special Operations military divers, scientists and natural resource managers who came together to restore a football field-sized coral reef for Super Bowl LIV and LV, and how in their fight to preserve and restore a national treasure, this unique team is laying the groundwork for future collaborative conservation efforts worldwide.
The invitation-only screening will be followed by a panel discussion with scientists and the veterans from Force Blue who have embarked on a new mission to use their significant military skills to help heal the ocean and save the only barrier coral reef in the continental United States. Short films about Super Bowl LVII projects done in partnership with FORCE BLUE will also be shown. They include brief films about an Ocean Conservation School (OCS) implemented for Gold Star Children who have lost a parent in the military and had an opportunity to learn to dive with FORCE BLUE veterans, and the Super Bowl LVII project to revitalize the Lower Salt River.
For more information, contact Dan Lessard at [email protected].
RISE TO HOST EIGTH ANNUAL SUPER BOWL SOCIAL JUSTICE CRITICAL CONVERSATION, CHAMPIONS OF CHANGE FAN EXPERIENCE AND A DIVERSITY IN SPORTS FORUM AT SUPER BOWL LVII
VIRTUAL: RISE, will host its Eighth Annual Super Bowl Critical Conversation to spark meaningful discourse in the sports community. This year’s topic: Putting It Into Action: How Sports Can Lead the Charge to Create Meaningful Societal Change, will be moderated by Steve Wyche and welcome athletes and executives from diverse backgrounds with a passion for community engagement. The conversation will address how the sports sector can enact initiatives that profoundly impact their communities in collaboration with community organizations, athletes, teams and leagues. The Critical Conversation will launch virtually on YouTube on Wednesday, February 8th.
RISE is the leading national nonprofit that educates and empowers the sports community to eliminate racial discrimination, champion social justice, and improve race relations. The Critical Conversation will launch on YouTube the week leading up to Super Bowl.
More information can be found at https://risetowin.org/sblvii and by following @RISEtoWIN on all platforms.
IN-PERSON + VIRTUAL: RISE will activate its Champions of Change fan experience at Super Bowl Experience presented by Lowe’s at the Phoenix Convention Center (100 North 3rd St). Champions of Change takes fans on a multi-sensory journey designed to educate, evoke empathy and inspire action while highlighting sports’ impact on inspiring social change. Fans will hear firsthand stories from NFL players on their experiences with race, discrimination, and activism and explore the RISE Road to Progress. This interactive timeline chronicles the historical intersection of sports and social justice. Fans across the country can also experience Champions of Change virtually by visiting https://risetowin.org/champions/.
IN-PERSON: Addressing the dual call for diversity in sports business and the desire to hire and retain diverse candidates who are rising stars in this industry, RISE and The National Society of Black Sports Professionals (Phoenix chapter) will host Representation Matters: Increasing Diversity in Sports Businesson Tuesday, Feb. 7th. The half-day, in-person program for sports professionals, from mid-level staffers to executives, will cultivate opportunities for meaningful professional networking and connections via an interactive experience focused on equity building and increasing diversity in sports business. The program is designed to spark dialogue amongst employees and employers, gain insight from leaders in the sports field, and create connections that can last a lifetime. The program is invite-only and will take place in downtown Phoenix.
To learn more about all RISE programs leading up to Super Bowl LVII, please contact Dean Cline at [email protected] or visit https://risetowin.org/sblvii.
NFL PLAY 60 KIDS DAY
On Wednesday, Feb. 8 from 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., 1,000 local youth in grades 4-6 will participate in NFL PLAY 60 Kids Day. Local students will have the opportunity to spend time with NFL players, Legends, mascots, and cheerleaders as they interact with different football-themed activity stations and learn about the importance of staying active and living a healthy lifestyle.
For more information, please contact Jordyn White at [email protected].
MAKE-A-WISH®
As one of the longest-standing partners of Make-A-Wish, the NFL will help celebrate 41 years of partnership with Make-A-Wish by helping to grant the wishes of 17 children with critical illnesses to attend Super Bowl LVII in Phoenix.. The history of Make-A-Wish kids at the Super Bowl dates back to the 9th wish in Make-A-Wish history in 1982.
This year, the children and their families will arrive in Phoenix on Wednesday, Feb. 8. Wish children and their families will enjoy several days of activities related to the Super Bowl and will attend the game at State Farm Stadium through the support of the NFL and other organizations.
Make-A-Wish creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Make-A-Wish is the world’s leading children’s wish-granting organization, operating in every community in the United States and in 50 countries worldwide. Together with generous donors, supporters, staff and more than 24,000 volunteers across the U.S., Make-A-Wish delivers hope and joy to children and their families when they need it most. Make-A-Wish aims to bring the power of wishing to every child with a critical illness because wish experiences can help improve emotional and physical health. Since 1980, Make-A-Wish has granted more than 550,000 wishes worldwide; more than 360,000 wishes in the U.S. and its territories alone. For more information about Make-A-Wish America, visit wish.org.
For more information on wish kid activities and media opportunities during Super Bowl week, contact Make-A-Wish at [email protected].
INSPIRE CHANGE SUPER BOWL CELEBRATION
As part the Inspire Change social justice campaign, the NFL will join with three local community organizations to address the digital divide and the way it impacts youth. Working with Chicanos Por La Causa, the Greater Phoenix Urban League, Native American Connections and non-profit Compudopt, the NFL will provide laptops to hundreds of children impacted by unequal access to technology via a grant from the NFL Foundation. Youth receiving laptops will join with their families and NFL Legends for a celebratory Super Bowl gathering at Kiwanis Park (5500 S Mill Ave, Tempe, AZ 85283) on Wednesday, Feb. 8 from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m., where they will take part in football drills, experiment with STEM activities, and explore their new technology.
For more information, contact Morgan Rubin at [email protected].
A NIGHT OF PRIDE WITH GLAAD
A Night of Pride with GLAAD, presented by Smirnoff is an evening of music, cocktails, and interview-style conversations with GLAAD, NFL friends, and partners to spotlight advances in and the future of LGBTQ inclusion in professional sports as well as the NFL’s commitment to former and current LGBTQ players and LGBTQ league members. To be held on Wednesday, Feb. 8 from 7 – 10 p.m. at the Sheraton Downtown Phoenix, A Night of Pride with GLAAD will feature discussions on the power of visibility and representation; the power and the promise of the next generation of NFL players; and how media can drive LGBTQ acceptance forward today and help combat discrimination against LGBTQ people. In addition, the evening will feature a special musical performance by Betty Who.
For more information, contact Morgan Rubin at [email protected].
24th ANNUAL SUPER BOWL SOULFUL CELEBRATION
Marking its 24th year, the groundbreaking music and inspiration extravaganza “Super Bowl Soulful Celebration: An Evening of Inspiration and Culture,” (formerly Super Bowl Gospel Celebration) returns during Super Bowl LVII week with a live taping on Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the Mesa Arts Center. Following the theme “Unstoppable,” the highly-anticipated night of music, comedy, NFL Players and soulful Inspiration will feature performances by the legendary Patti LaBelle, Israel Houghton & N3, Ricky Dillard, The Players Choir and more. Highlighting NFL players, their faith and philanthropy with uplifting songs of joy, the show will recognize Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback Jalen Hurts, who will be presented with this year’s “Faith In Action Award,” as well as a host of other players.
Originating at Super Bowl XXXIII in 1999, the annual event joins together key NFL Players, top Gospel/Contemporary Christian and mainstream GRAMMY® Award-winning artists and special guests all on one stage to bring audiences an evening of uplifting music and inspirational messages.
Tickets are on sale now at superbowlsoulfulcelebration.com. For more information or to arrange press opportunities, contact Tosha Whitten, FrontPage Firm, [email protected] or 202-246-7875.
CPR INSTRUCTION PROVIDED BY AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION AT SUPER BOWL EXPERIENCE
From Thursday, Feb. 9 through Saturday, Feb. 11 at the Super Bowl Experience presented by Lowe’s, American Heart Association will give those in attendance a chance to “Be The Beat” and learn Hands-Only CPR. During this engaging and interactive instruction, attendees will learn the two simple steps to help save a life and can try out skills in a fun CPR race. This activation is part of the NFL’s ongoing partnership with American Heart Association to help create healthier lifestyles across the NFL family.
For more information, please contact Linzy Cotaya at [email protected].
NFL UNSUNG HEROES CELEBRATION
To celebrate and thank employees, advocates and volunteers from local organizations that address domestic violence, sexual assault and trafficking in the Phoenix area, the NFL will host a special brunch on Thursday, Feb. 9 from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. at The Churchill (901 N 1st St.). The event will begin with opening remarks from NFL representatives and players who will thank and honor the invited guests for their hard work and dedication in this space. Attendees will enjoy a meal and brunch beverages on their own time, while mingling and partaking in a volunteer activity to benefit a local shelter.
This is a private event and space is limited. Interested media should RSVP to Jordyn White at [email protected].
SALUTE TO SERVICE AT LUKE AIR FORCE BASE
On Thursday, Feb. 9 at 11 a.m., NFL representatives will visit Luke Air Force Base (14185 Falcon St., Luke AFB, Ariz.) as part of a Community Day to meet and interact with service members from the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force, including the pilots conducting the Super Bowl LVII flyover. The NFL’s longstanding commitment to the military remains a priority and through Salute to Service and events such as this one, the League is able to honor and connect with service members and military families.
NOTE: Media will need to submit full legal name, driver’s license number, citizenship status, state of issued ID and date of birth more than 72 hours in advance to be approved by the base.
Please submit information or contact Dan Lessard at [email protected] for more information.
SUPER BOWL LEGACY GRANT PRESS CONFERENCE
The NFL seeks to leave a lasting legacy in the surrounding communities of the Super Bowl host city with the Super Bowl Legacy Grant Program, made possible each year by an annual $1 million contribution from the NFL Foundation and matched by the Super Bowl Host Committee. This year, the NFL and the Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee will support local nonprofits with proven track records of benefiting underserved Arizonans. Selected nonprofits focus their work within the following pillars: Education: improving access to quality education for youth; Health & Wellness: improving the overall well-being of residents, primarily youth; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Social Justice: driving positive action for equality and accessibility; and Environment & Sustainability: implementing food recovery and recycling initiatives.
The Legacy Grant Press Conference will take place on Thursday, Feb. 9 at 11:30 a.m. at 1401 E. Van Buren St. Phoenix.
Media who would like to attend must RSVP to Jordyn White at [email protected].
FRITZ POLLARD ALLIANCE FOUNDATION 18th ANNUAL JOHNNIE L. COCHRAN, JR. EXCELLENCE AWARDS
The Fritz Pollard Alliance Foundation will host its 18th Annual Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr., Salute to Excellence Awards on Thursday, Feb. 9 at 12 p.m. at the Courtyard Phoenix Downtown (132 S. Central Ave.), to recognize the achievements and long-standing commitment of individuals and organizations dedicated to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. Attendees include Commissioner Roger Goodell, NFL Legends, and other notable luminaries.
For more information, please contact Traci Otey Blunt at [email protected].
PLAYERS COALITION HOSTS EXCLUSIVE “MEDIA MORNINGS” FUELED BY CAFÉ MOMENTUM TO HIGHLIGHT INNOVATIVE MODEL FOR YOUTH JUSTICE
Players Coalition invites all credentialed media to join us for complimentary coffee and small bites at our Food Truck powered by Café Momentum at the Phoenix Convention Center outside on 3rd St. on Thursday, Feb. 9 and Friday, Feb. 10 any time from 11 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Athletes and Café Momentum Ambassadors will be on site to speak with the media to help them better understand the current issues facing youth in our justice system and models for change and impact.
Café Momentum is a national, non-profit, Dallas-based restaurant and culinary training facility that transforms young lives for kids coming out of juvenile detention by equipping them with life skills, education and employment opportunities through the restaurant industry. They are reducing recidivism, increasing high school graduation rates and creating economic and workforce advancement for justice-involved youth around the country. Café Momentum and Players Coalition are 501(c)(3) organizations and operate entirely as nonpartisan entities.
For more information, contact Lindsay Means at [email protected].
NFL PLAY 60 SUPER BOWL LVII FITNESS BREAK BROADCAST
VIRTUAL: On Thursday, Feb. 9 at 11 a.m., the American Heart Association and the NFL invite students from coast-to-coast to tune into the NFL PLAY 60 Super Bowl LVII Fitness Break to learn more about the benefits of physical activity for minds and bodies. The virtual broadcast features segments on the science behind youth health and wellness and the importance of playing for 60 minutes a day. The national winner of the Race to the Super Bowl grants, an American Heart Association grant program awarding funds for physical activity equipment, will be unveiled. Grants of $1,000 were awarded to 32 schools throughout the country. The top school, announced in the broadcast, will receive an additional $1,000 grant. Schools can register now at: Heart.org/NFLPLAY60.
For more information, please contact Linzy Cotaya at [email protected].
PLAYERS COALITION HOSTS FAN FOOD ACTIVATIONS FUELED BY CAFÉ MOMENTUM TO HIGHLIGHT INNOVATIVE MODEL FOR YOUTH JUSTICE
Players Coalition invites all ticketed Super Bowl Experience presented by Lowe’s fans to join us for complimentary small bites at our Food Truck powered by Café Momentum at the Phoenix Convention Center outside on 3rd St. on Thursday, Feb. 9 and Friday, Feb. 10 starting at 3:00 p.m.
Athletes and Café Momentum Ambassadors will be on site to speak with the public to help them better understand the current issues facing youth in our justice system and models for change and impact.
Café Momentum is a national, non-profit, Dallas-based restaurant and culinary training facility that transforms young lives for kids coming out of juvenile detention by equipping them with life skills, education and employment opportunities through the restaurant industry. They are reducing recidivism, increasing high school graduation rates and creating economic and workforce advancement for justice-involved youth around the country. Café Momentum and Players Coalition are 501(c)(3) organizations and operate entirely as nonpartisan entities.
For more information, contact Lindsay Means at [email protected].
ONE-N-TEN AND PGFFL COMMUNITY EVENT
The NFL will welcome youth and their families from one-n-ten, a Phoenix-area nonprofit dedicated to serving and assisting LGBTQ individuals, for a special flag football clinic at Super Bowl Experience presented by Lowe’s at the Phoenix Convention Center (100 N. 3rd St.) on Thursday, Feb. 9 from 4-6 p.m. Coaches for the clinic will include NFL Legends and players from the Phoenix Gay Flag Football League, part of the National Gay Flag Football League. The event will include messages of allyship and support for the LGBTQ community from the NFL family.
For more information, please contact Jordyn White at [email protected].
Play Football High School Day AT SUPER BOWL EXPERIENCE PRESENTED BY LOWE’S
The NFL will celebrate high school football student-athletes and coaches on Friday, Feb. 10 and Saturday, Feb. 11, with two separate events at the Super Bowl, highlighting the values and fun associated with the game of football.
Play Football High School Day at the Super Bowl Experience presented by Lowe’s (100 N. 3rd St.) will take place on Friday, Feb. 10 from 4 – 7:30 p.m.. High school Football players will take part in a combine experience on the Play Football field, unique design activations led by Football Development Partners, Nike and Riddell.
The NFL will host the 2023 Play Football Family Festival on Saturday, Feb. 11 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Hamilton High School (3700 S. Arizona Ave, Chandler, Ariz.). The sixth annual Play Football Family Festival will celebrate coaches, players, and the football community that bring passion, fun and excitement to the sport.
For more information, please contact Avis Roper at [email protected].
WALTER PAYTON NFL MAN OF THE YEAR EVENT
The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year (WPMOY) Award recognizes an NFL player for his excellence on and off the field. Representing the best of the NFL’s commitment to philanthropy and community impact, each of the 32 teams selects a player as their Man of the Year nominee for a chance to win this prestigious national honor. During the week of Super Bowl, the NFL family and nominees participate in an event centered around giving back.
This year, the NFL is partnering with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley to host its annual Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Community Event on Friday, Feb. 10 from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. at the Bob and Renee Parsons Boys and Girls Club (1601 W Sherman St.).The NFL family and the MOY nominees will work alongside local youth from the Boys and Girls Club to partake in several volunteer activities, fun games, and more.
For more information, please contact Jordyn White at [email protected].
NFL PLAYER CARE FOUNDATION SUPER BOWL CAREER FAIR
On Friday, Feb. 10, the NFL Player Care Foundation (PCF) will host their 5th Annual Super Bowl Career Fair at the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel (100 N. 1st St.) from 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., allowing NFL Legends the opportunity to network with 50+ employers including Cigna, Cisco, FedEx, Lowe’s, Microsoft, NBC Sports, Nike, the NFL, PepsiCo, Visa, and more. The Career Fair will function in a hybrid capacity, featuring a physical component in Phoenix and a virtual component on the NFL PCF Career Portal. The PCF is an independent foundation created in 2007 by a partnership between NFL owners, the NFL Players Association, Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the NFL Alumni Association. Since its inception, the organization has provided over $21.5 million in financial assistance to NFL Legends in need. Additionally, PCF has screened more than 6,400 retired NFL players through its “Healthy Body & Mind Screening Program”. The PCF Career Program is an initiative that connects more than 1,500 retired NFL players with the opportunity to connect with 95+ employers. For more information, visit nflplayercare.com.
For more information on the Career Fair contact, A’Maiya Allen at [email protected].
LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD: SUPPLIER DIVERSITY MIXER
The NFL will host an afternoon of connection, conversation, and cocktails on Friday, Feb. 10 from 12 – 3 p.m. at the Pemberton (1121 N. 2nd St.). This unique event will provide corporate decision-makers the opportunity to network with diverse, women-owned, local and national suppliers, who will showcase their capabilities in the Tech, Finance, and Professional Services sectors.
Additionally, attendees will liaise with NFL partners such as the US Black Chamber of Commerce and hear from experts sharing best practices on how to create and establish successful supplier-to-business relationships.
For more information, contact Morgan Rubin at [email protected].
SUPER BOWL BREAKFAST
Minnesota Vikings’ quarterback Kirk Cousins is the winner of the 2023 Bart Starr Award for outstanding character, integrity and leadership on and off the field. The award presentation will be held as part of the Super Bowl Breakfast on Saturday, Feb. 11. The 36th annual event, which is sanctioned by the NFL, unites fans, Phoenix business leaders and football legends for a morning of celebration ahead of the big game. The Super Bowl Breakfast will be held at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort and Spa (5350 E Marriott Dr.) from 8 – 10 a.m. and will feature Pro Football Hall of Famers Tony Dungy, Anthony Munoz and other well-known NFL players, coaches and alumni. The event emcee is Akbar Gbajabiamila, a former NFL player and television host of The Talk on CBS and American Ninja Warrior on NBC. To learn about the Bart Starr Award, the Super Bowl Breakfast and to purchase tickets, visit www.superbowlbreakfast.com.
For more information, contact Darrin Gray at 813-777-3140 or [email protected].
3nd ANNUAL MADDEN NFL x HBCU TOURNAMENT
This season the NFL is hosting the 3rd annual Madden NFL x HBCU Tournament with EA, designed to reach students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) that have a passion for gaming and football through a competitive tournament and career development opportunities. This year’s tournament featured the first-ever women’s bracket for an EA or Madden tournament. There will be 16 qualified students who will travel to Arizona on behalf of the NFL for a week of job shadowing, networking, and “experienceships” to spend time with NFL staff to learn the intricacies of the business of sports through practical learning, as well as receive a ticket to attend Super Bowl LVII. The top finalists are set to compete in the Madden NFL 23 x HBCU Tournament during Super Bowl LVII Week where they will be playing for $70k in cash and prizes at State Farm Stadium in Arizona and the final match-up will be available to watch on the NFL YouTube channel on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 1 p.m.
For more information, please contact Liana Bailey at [email protected].
Taste of the NFL
Taste of the NFL presented by Frito-Lay, Quaker and the PepsiCo Foundation, a highly anticipated Super Bowl weekend purpose-driven culinary event, will be held on Saturday, Feb. 11 – 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Chateau Luxe (1175 E. Lone Cactus Dr.). All event proceeds will benefit GENYOUth’s End Student Hunger fund to help schools nationwide tackle hunger and food insecurity among youth. Taste of the NFL guests with a passion for food, football and fun will indulge in delicious food and cocktail experiences, meet-and-greets with NFL greats and special guests including Miss America, and culinary demonstrations by star chefs Andrew Zimmern, Carla Hall, Tim Love, Mark Bucher and Lasheeda Perry. Completing the stellar line-up of chefs are tastings from 25 food masters including Arizona culinary stars Maurice Gordon, Christopher Gross, Beau MacMillan, Maria Mazon, and Mark Tarbell; as well as chefs Yesenia Ramirez, Miriam Ramirez, Lucia and Ramon Garcia, and Imelda Hartley from the PepsiCo Foundation’s IMPACTO Hispanic Business Accelerator and PepsiCo’s Juntos Crecemos programs.
For more information, please contact Eric Slutsky, at [email protected].
NFL GREEN
The NFL, the Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee, Verizon, APS and the Arizona Cardinals have teamed up to develop a series of initiatives to reduce the environmental impact of Super Bowl LVII and create a “green” legacy in Arizona. The focus has been on increasing tree canopy to provide shade and cooling, creating community gardens and pollinator habitat and restoring the Lower Salt River in the Tonto National Forest.
Community Greening: NFL Green is implementing numerous community greening projects throughout Arizona for Super Bowl LVII including:
- The planting of 57 trees in honor of Super Bowl LVII to provide shade and cooling at Sunridge Park in Phoenix in partnership with Keep Phoenix Beautiful and Phoenix Parks and Recreation. This project kicked off Super Bowl LVII community greening initiatives last Fall and marked the “Passing of the Golden Shovel” from Los Angeles to Arizona.
- Tree planting at Tempe’s Corona del Sol High School to provide shade, beauty, cooling and increase the tree canopy in partnership with Keep Tempe Beautiful and the City of Tempe.
- Replacement of 65 storm-damaged Cypress trees at the historic Mesa Cemetery in partnership with City of Mesa Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities Department.
- The planting of trees and pollinator attracting plants to increase habitat for Monarch butterflies at Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area in West Phoenix in partnership with Keep Phoenix Beautiful and the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department.
- The planting of 100 desert shade trees in Tucson’s El Rio Acres neighborhood to increase shade canopy coverage and help cool the area in partnership with Tucson Clean and Beautiful and the City of Tucson.
- Installation of new garden beds and expansion of Flagstaff’s Historic Southside Community Garden in partnership with TerraBIRDS and the City of Flagstaff Sustainability Office.
- Planting of native trees, bushes and pollinator attracting plants along the Phoenix Zoo’s Africa Trail to support pollinators, reduce erosion and increase shade and cooling in partnership with the Phoenix Zoo.
- Beautification project to enhance the gardens at the entrance to Native Health in Mesa, a facility that provides health and wellness services and food distribution to the urban indigenous community and other underserved communities in Phoenix metro areas, in partnership with Native Health.
- Creation of an intergenerational learning garden and planting of trees, vegetables, pollinator attracting plants and a sensory herb garden at Fountain Hill’s EcoSchool Garden in partnership with 4-H Empowered to Make a Difference.
- Addition of native pollinator attracting plants to expand pollinator habitat at the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC) demonstration treatment wetlands in partnership with Butterfly Wonderland Foundation. Project included the installation of two bee boxes and the release of 90 Painted Lady butterflies which are native to the area.
- Beautification project to plant low water use trees and shrubs and replace turf with decomposed granite to reduce water consumption at Goodyear’s Historic Loma Linda Park in partnership with the City of Goodyear and Goodyear Parks and Recreation.
- As part of a special Veterans Day initiative, the NFL teamed up with FORCE BLUE Special Operations military veterans to educate and inspire the next generation of conservation leaders. In partnership with OdySea Aquarium, NAUI Worldwide, PepsiCo, and the NFL Players Association, select children from Gold Star families attended an Ocean Conservation School (OCS) and received SCUBA training with veterans from FORCE BLUE. The goal is to create a cadre of future conservation leaders, instilled with a profound sense of duty and service, and to give children who have lost a parent in military service a tangible way to honor their legacy.
- A final “passing of the golden shovel” community greening event will take place later this year. That event will mark the passing of Super Bowl community greening projects from Arizona to Las Vegas, site of Super Bowl LVIII.
Habitat Restoration: Conservation experts teamed up to make a positive impact on the Lower Salt River in the Tonto National Forest. For the largest community volunteer clean up event ever implemented by NFL Green, hundreds of community volunteers removed debris from the banks of the Lower Salt River, while special ops retired military veterans from FORCE BLUE removed invasive apple snails from the riverbed, and kayakers assisted in the water by removing apple snail egg clusters and debris from the waterway. Invasive apple snails are threatening the ecosystem of this popular recreation site. The project brought together diverse partners including NFL Green, OdySea Aquarium, FORCE BLUE, the Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee, Natural Restorations, USDA Forest Service – Tonto National Forest, Phoenix Zoo, Verizon, APS, Republic, the Arizona Cardinals, the NFL Players Association and hundreds of community volunteers.
Reforestation: NFL sustainability partner Verizon will plant 5,700 trees (100 trees for each Super Bowl) in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests to restore areas heavily impacted by wildfire. The initiative will enhance wildlife habitat, help to restore the watershed, and perpetuate the recovery of southwestern forests to their historic species composition.
Super Kids-Super Sharing: NFL Green, the Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee, the Arizona Cardinals, The Salvation Army and Verizon teamed up with more than 75 local schools and Valley of the Sun YMCA’s for a Super Bowl project that put tens of thousands of books, pieces of sports equipment and school supplies in the hands of local children. The project, called Super Kids-Super Sharing has been implemented in every Super Bowl host community for the past 24 years. As part of Super Kids, Verizon presented a $25,000 grant to Chicanos Por La Causa to help support families that have experienced trauma. The Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee presented a Super Bowl Legacy grant to Elevate Phoenix. Funds will be used to purchase a van to transport youth to and from program activities; provide hundreds of teacher-mentor hours to teach accredited curriculum in the classroom and provide tutoring and mentoring, and to purchase curriculum and other supplies. Wilson sporting goods gifted every Super Kids recipient school and organization with sports equipment.
Other NFL Green projects include:
Green and Win: A unique fan engagement project called “Green and Win” will be implemented at Super Bowl in partnership with Verizon. Fans sharing tips on helping the environment may win a unique Super Bowl hat and have their photos posted on NFL social media. Trees will be planted in their honor to help reforest an area that was damaged by wildfire in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests.
Food Recovery and Donation: Prepared unserved food from Super Bowl events is being collected and distributed to shelters and feeding programs in partnership with Waste Not, United Food Bank and St. Mary’s Food Bank.
Material Recovery: Recovery of event materials will begin immediately after most Super Bowl events. During the week following the game, there will be an intensive drive to collect and donate items left over from Super Bowl including building materials, décor fabric, carpeting and sign materials. In partnership with the Salvation Army, these items will be donated to local organizations that can reuse, repurpose or remanufacture the material.
Waste Reduction: Comprehensive effort to increase recycling and waste diversion at Super Bowl in partnership with State Farm Stadium. Recycling and composting at Super Bowl Experience presented by Lowe’s pt the Phoenix Convention Center and Hance Park in partnership with the City of Phoenix.
Green Energy: “Green” energy will be used to power major Super Bowl event venues including State Farm Stadium, the AFC and NFC team hotels, and the NFL headquarters hotel. Renewable energy certificates (RECs) equivalent to the electricity usage at these facilities will help to mitigate the climate impact of energy emissions. Renewable energy provided by APS is powering the Phoenix Convention Center, host site of the Super Bowl Experience presented by Lowe’s fan event.
The NFL has incorporated environmental projects into the management of Super Bowl for nearly 30 years.
For more information, contact Susan Groh, NFL Green, at 401-952-0885.
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