Super Bowl is quickly approaching with the buildup rising, not to mention all the hype around the week of back-to-back events leading up to the big day. If your itinerary is not set in stone for that week and you are one of the lucky ones, who will be present in Arizona for the big game, you won’t regret stopping by the Super Bowl-a-Thon on Friday, January 30th, 2015 from noon until 3pm.
What is the Super Bowl-a-Thon and whom does it benefit you may ask? It is an afternoon with moms (Professional Football Players Mothers Association- PFPMA) as well as packed with celebrities from professional football players (both current and former), like Reggie Wayne, Michael Boley, Keary Colbert, and DeShaun Foster, as well as college football players, ready to get their most impressive strike, spare or gutter ball bowl on with you, your friends and family. They might even let you use the bumpers if bowling isn’t your forte.
In between your rounds of bowling there will be a silent auction with sports memorabilia, food and a book signing by Dante and Renetta Wesley, authors of F.A.C.T.S. This books dives into the trials and tribulations of a professional sports marriage uncensored. Dante and Renetta speak on the ups and downs in not only a professional sports marriage, but also any relationship and how to use faith and communication to create a stronger bond.
Your day will be filled with laughter and activity as well as creating and hearing stories from some of your favorite players and their mothers, but it doesn’t stop there. Your attendance at Bowlmor Lanes in Scottsdale, Arizona will benefit two astonishing organizations.
The first of the two organizations is Autism Speaks. The awareness for autism is growing, but we as a society still have a lot to learn. Autism appears to have its roots in very early brain development. However, the most obvious signs of autism and symptoms of autism tend to emerge between 2 and 3 years of age. Autism Speaks continues to fund research on effective methods for earlier diagnosis, as early intervention with proven behavioral therapies can improve outcomes. Increasing autism awareness is a key aspect of this work” (http://www.autismspeaks.org). As of most recent studies autism affects around 1 in 68 American children, so the more we can learn and commit to research the stronger our ability to diagnose and fight this medical illness.
The second organization Super Bowl-a-Thon aids is Heroes & Healthy Families for our military troops. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder “PTSD” has been identified under many different names, and “is affecting an estimated 400,000 of those who served in Afghanistan and Iraq…Heroes and Healthy families, is taking a unique approach to addressing these issues…by utilize[ing] trainers who are not only knowledgeable about the subject, but who have experienced the wounds of war personally…The program has been privileged to serve over 16,000 Marines and Sailors across the United States as a result of the support of hundreds of donors” (http://www.heroesandhealthyfamilies.org).
The wonderful women that are behind this whole event, group under the Professional Football Players Mothers Association (PFPMA). Super Bowl-a-Thon is being organized by National Events Coordinator, Cheryl Foster complemented by her son DeShaun Foster. PFPMA is led by Denise Wayne, mother of Reggie Wayne and their mission is, “To identify and implement programs that advance the organizations vision by providing yearly educational seminars and programs designed to inform and assist players and their mothers in their transition to the NFL. To provide financial and moral support to charities for at-risk-youth and disadvantaged communities with revenue generated yearly in fund-raising events and organizational sponsorships and to also provide volunteer representation in events in local communities to promote education by sharing the success of our sons and PFPMA” (http://www.pfpma.org/ssp/home).
One of their visions for Super Bowl-a-thon is that of, a thousand hugs for autism and our military troops. “A hug speaks volumes without saying anything, the minute you embrace a person it says a lot. A hug is basically saying I love you, in an action as opposed to just vocally” says Cheryl Foster. A hug is a symbol of love, it is a symbol of happiness, and it gives you strength and lets you know you are not alone. Service men and women fight for our freedom day in and out, so we can live the lives that we are blessed with today, Cheryl and her all of her PFPMA sisters believe that the least we can do to show our support for them is to give them a hug extending our sincerest gratitude. A hug is also a symbol that can show our friends and family fighting autism that they are not alone, and we are all here fighting alongside them. With that in mind, remember a hug goes a long way.
Amongst all that Super Bowl-a-thon has to offer I don’t see how you could miss this incredible event, so bring out your backwards grandma style bowling skills, or if you’re more of a professional, your curve ball and come out to support Autism Speaks and Heroes & Healthy Families for our military troops. Single tickets are $45, with student discounts available and you can purchase them online at tinyurl.com/bowl-a-thon-tickets.
