Event Type: An annual singing search exclusively for unsigned vocalists who are residents of the Super Bowl host city to compete for the opportunity to sing the National Anthem and perform as the opening half-time act at the only celebrity basketball game to have ever become sanctioned by the National Football League for Super Bowl, Gridiron Celebrity Hoops XVII. The finalist(s) will receive a cash prize of five hundred dollars ($500), merchandise and prizes and a video recording of their live performance posted on YouTube and broadcast via all of our social media.

Event Type: The 17^th year of the first and only celebrity basketball game to have ever become officially sanctioned by the National Football League returns to Arizona. Now separately and independently produced exclusively by Jam Sports Productions, and endorsed by the United States President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. This preeminent event is where NFL players, prospective NFL draft picks, boxing champs, world-renowned wrestlers, streetballers, and celebrities from music, television, and film are “Playing with a Purpose”.

Gridiron XVII offers football fans of all ages and levels of interest a once-in-a-lifetime experience to witness the Best of Both Worlds – their favorite football heroes playing in a competitive game of basketball alongside fun, safe, indoor sports-themed contests. The charity game annually raises awareness about child abuse and enriches the lives of abused, abandoned, neglected and homeless youth in foster care waiting to be adopted into loving “forever families”.

Event Type: Cactus City Classic Hollywood Husbands Bash Hosted by Grammy Winner Nelly, actor Boris Kodjoe and Daymond John from Shark Tank! The official after-party to Gridiron Celebrity Hoops XVIII – a 360° Experience.

The My Brothers Keeper Community Challenge encourages communities (cities, rural municipalities, and tribal nations) to implement a coherent cradle-to-college-and-career strategy for improving the life outcomes of all young people to ensure that they can reach their full potential, regardless of who they are, where they come from, of the circumstances into which they are born.

The six goals of the Challenge are:

• Ensuring all children enter school cognitively, physically, socially and emotionally ready
• Ensuring all children read at grade level by 3rd grade
• Ensuring all youth graduate from high school
• Ensuring all youth complete post-secondary education or training
• Ensuring all youth out of school are employed
• Ensuring all youth remain safe from violent crime

FOX 10 News | myfoxphoenix.com
by Anita Roman

PHOENIX – It’s that time of year when kids begin heading back to school. Several organizations came together Saturday to help them get a great start with a school supply giveaway.

Thousands of valley families with school aged kids lined up outside Lolo’s Chicken and Waffles on Central near Buckeye Saturday morning, eager to receive free school supplies.

“These kids are my godchildren. They come from a family of eight and five of them are in school so this is helping out their mom tremendously. She’s a young parent,” said August Taylor.

The giveaway was a collaborative effort between the Unstoppable Divas, Second to None Motorcycle Club and others who donated items and time to make sure these students start their school year in a positive way.

“It’s very exciting so when you go in with new stuff, you have all your supplies, you don’t feel left out. Now you have a tool for your education so that you feel you’re going to be on board with everybody else,” said Nanette Brown Jackson, with Unstoppable Divas.

Experts say the cost of school supplies is up this year from last year, about an average of 7.3 percent. Free supplies offer parents who can’t afford the increase a huge relief.

“Huge amount of stress on the parents when they’re unable to buy the school supplies they actually need for the kids, but then they are able to provide those supplies for the kids themselves. Also has the opportunity to really give those kids that attitude, get them ready and prepared to go to school…start out their school year with the right frame of mind,” said District 8 Councilman Michael Johnson.

Johnson helped organize the first ever Phoenix Tools 4 School event. More than 2,000 backpacks were given away, along with free breakfast.