The Super Bowl is the greatest event in sports-entertainment history. The annual game has featured the best and brightest performers and is universally recognized as one of the most anticipated events in all of North America. For decades, the Super Bowl has been a live staple in television schedules and countless people spend hundreds of dollars on Super Bowl tickets and other memorabilia each year.
But the Super Bowl is more than just the games between the best football teams in the country. The contest brings together millions of fans from all walks of life for one night to celebrate the best of American society. For years, celebrities, musicians, athletes, business moguls, political figures, and other prominent people have made the Super Bowl a crucial part of their public relations strategy.
Two-time NBA champion Allen Iverson was one of the first superstars to establish his own charity organization to raise money for charities of his choice. Every year, at the Super Bowl, Iverson and the Sixers play a huge game against the Denver Nuggets, and his charity, the Iverson Family Foundation, raises money to give to different charity organizations in America. He is currently playing basketball for the Phoenix Suns. In addition to his charitable endeavors, Allen Iverson has been a well-known television personality, with his radio show, The Iverson Show, making it to the top ten entertainment programs in the country.
Tom Brady, the superstar quarterback of the New England Patriots, has been an avid fan of the Super Bowl and his ability to put the team on his back has earned him the nickname, The Godfather. Brady’s charity has given away thousands of football helmets to military personnel and children who are in need of a good education. The new ‘Godfather’ jerseys for the NFL players are a huge hit with kids and the Super Bowl jersey for Brady is selling out every year. Brady has been called one of the best players of all time.
Gio Echevarria, a thirty-year-old star quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts, has dedicated his career to helping children in underprivileged areas in America. Gio Echevarria had appeared on national television many times and in the past has gone to Africa to help with a food drive. In addition to donating to various charities, Gio Echevarria also is involved in theater productions and enjoys doing charity work for his fellow Americans. In 2020, Echevarria received the Champion of Change Award from the United Way of Greater Cincinnati.
Another one of the highly popular athletes during the Super Bowl is Lance Armstrong. For twenty-seven years, Lance Armstrong has made it a goal to help others by raising money for cancer research. In 2020, Armstrong was charged with doping and illegally using performance enhancing drugs and was banned from professional cycling. Armstrong was subsequently stripped of his seven Tour de France titles.
The Super Bowl is the pinnacle of the major sports, but not all of the athletes who participate are well known. There are a number of celebrities who have given up the spotlight to do humanitarian work for their own reasons. They enjoy the camaraderie of the game and know how well it gets the juices flowing when there is a big occasion and they can look forward to a few days off.
Today, there are a growing number of new generation celebrities who are very much aware of the humanitarian issues in our society. Their charity work has become a must for them. From the Super Bowl to hurricane Katrina, these new generation celebrities are still using their celebrity status to further the cause of the less fortunate.
