The Edit by Brett Graff
This week proves there's a philanthropic side to Super Bowl
Miami is the host city for Super Bowl LIV and the parties, concerts and surrounding events are happening everywhere. Many of them showcase the championship’s philanthropic side, so here are three ways you celebrate the sport of giving while enjoying the football festivities.
Taste of the NFL at the Diplomat Beach Resort
Of the greatest Super Bowl traditions, at least for the cities hosting the game, is the Party with a Purpose by Taste of the NFL. In its 29th year, this event takes place on the eve of the Super Bowl and is a friendly “competition” that pits fans of all 32 NFL teams against each other to raise money for food banks in communities nationwide. This year’s funds will go to Feeding South Florida and to-date, Taste of the NFL’s programs and events have donated in excess of $26 million, resulting in more than 220 million meals for the Americans who need them.
The 2020 year’s star-studded fundraising event is being held at the Diplomat Beach Resort and will bring together exceptional cuisine, prominent chefs from around the country, NFL players, coaches and legends to support the fight against hunger. The team of guest hosts for 2020 includes the legendary Coach Don Shula – who was recently presented by event founder Wayne Kostroski with the Taste of the NFL Lifetime Achievement Award — Chef Andrew Zimmern, Chef Adam Richman, and Ben Leber as the National Player Host. Representing South Florida are some true stars of food and sports including Chef Allen Susser, Chef Paula DaSilva, former Dolphins linebacker John Offerdahl, and former Dolphins safety Dick Anderson. Saturday, February 1, 7 p.m., The Diplomat Beach Resort, 3555 South Ocean Drive, Hollywood, General admission $700 per person, VIP sections with extra perks is $10,000 for a table of 10. Click here for tickets.
Off The Field Wives Association Fashion Show
Fashion this football season will be couture thanks to the Off the Field Wives Association. The official philanthropic organization comprised spouses of active and retired NFL players is teaming up with Design District stores for a fashion show and donating all proceeds to Michelle Obama’s REACH HIGHER INITIATIVE, which aims to inspire American students to take on education past high school in either a professional training program, a community college, or a four-year college or university. For the show, the celebrity names appearing and released include Anquan Boldin Dionne Boldin and Ericka Lassiter. They’ll be among those walking the catwalk in fashions by Miami Design District shops including Alice & Olivia, Boheme, Boutique, Cuyana, Emilio Pucci, Frame, Hublot, Jhoanna Alba, Lanvin and Zadig et Voltaire. Friday, January 31st at 11:30 A.M. to 2 P.M., Miami Design District, 3841 NE 2ND AVENUE (Palm Court) Tickets cost between $200 to $450 for VIP seating. Click here for tickets.
Super Bowl Beach Clean Up on Virginia Key
Super Bowl is played on the field, but the Super Bowl Miami Host Committee is also considering the waters, most notably the oceans and Everglades National Park, our 1.5-million-acres of wetlands preserve. To that end, the committee launched the Ocean to Everglades (O2E), initiative in partnership with NFL Green, Ocean Conservancy and The Everglades Foundation. O2E, the committee says, will actively work to reduce environmental impact of Super Bowl LIV by reducing waste and working to create what the initiative calls a “green legacy.”
The initiative will come to life in a series of activations and events including a beach cleanups, on Virginia Key. The Ocean Conservancy and the Miami Super Bowl Host Committee, together along with hundreds of volunteers, will host a final cleanup at Historic Virginia Key Beach Park, which will be a part of the NFL’s Huddle for 100 initiative, a program designed to encourage people to log more than 100 million minutes of community service in celebration of the league’s 100th season.
The effort will remove trash along Historic Virginia Key Beach Park in Miami, where Biscayne Bay meets the ocean. Water and fruit will be available for volunteers, along with pizza after the cleanup activity. All supplies for the cleanup will be provided, but volunteers should wear appropriate clothing to protect themselves from the sun, wind and bugs. Also, if you have them, bring your own work gloves and refillable water bottle and wear appropriate shoes. Tuesday, January 28, 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., Historic Virginia Key Beach Park, 4020 Virginia Beach Drive, Miami, this event is free, click here to register.
Brett Graff is SocialMiami.com’s managing editor and has been a journalist covering money, people and power for over 20 years. Graff contributes to national media outlets including Reuters, Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, Maxim, and the PBS show, Nightly Business Report. A former U.S. government economist, her nationally syndicated column The Home Economist is first published in The Miami Herald and then on the Tribune Content Agency, where it’s available to over 400 publications nationwide. She is broadcast weekly on two iHeartRadio news shows and is the author of “Not Buying It: Stop Overspending & Start Raising Happier, Healthier, More Successful Kids,” a parenting guide for people who might be tempted to buy their children the very obstacles they’re trying to avoid.
