SOS Auxiliary Hosts 1st Annual Super Bowl for Foster Children

Coconut Creek, FL- In the back field of SOS Children’s Village – Florida on Saturday, January 31 seventy-two foster children and dozens of young adults who grew up at the village played in the Super Bowl, the SOS Super Bowl, thanks to the Village’s volunteers and friends.

It was the Benedict Cardinals vs. the Seawood Steelers with teams named after event sponsors, the Benedict family and Seawood Builders, and a team playing in the NFL Super Bowl the next day. Each team divided into five age groups, to play five separate games.

The SOS Junior Auxiliary, made up of teen volunteers, spent months planning the games, creating the rules, and making sure all of the appropriate equipment and staffing were in place. Auxiliary members from St Andrews School in Boca Raton asked their athletic department to donate the flags, footballs, cones, and other equipment to set up the field. Enthralled by their efforts, the coaches volunteered their time to coach and referee the games too.

During the game, event Sponsor Russell Newman, of Newman Sports Academy, gave the play by play with added color commentary from 5 year old SOS resident, Andres who trailed behind him at the sidelines. Meanwhile, Hard Rock DJ Cliff Moitt energized the crowd with game music and line dancing at half time.

The tournament ended in a tie with the Steelers winning the youngest and oldest kids’ games and the Cardinals winning the other two. But the children rallied in the end to beat the staff and adults in a final match at the end of the day.

“A Super Bowl event at the Village could not have been possible without our wonderful friends and volunteers,” says CEO Jeff Zirulnick. “Everyone rallied so quickly and with such determination that our kids have an amazing football experience.”

Making the day more special were visits from Miami Dolphin Alumni, Jeff Faulkner, Bill Davis, G Booth Lusteg, James Pruitt, Sean Hill, Bobby Harden, Ed Perry, and NY Jets Alumni Dwayne White. The players stopped by throughout the day to visit with the kids, toss around a ball and give a few tips.

Special thanks to all of the event sponsors which helped make the day special for these amazing children: The Benedict Family, Seawood Builders, Toshiba Business Solutions Florida, The Belford Family, Newman Sports Academy, Chatoff Charitable Foundation Trust , James Arnau, Associates, Caring Friends Fund , Ronald Luzim, Esq., Law Office of Steven D. Elias, P.A. , Mark A. Solomon Family, Apple Printing , Unlimited Dog Tags, Sign-A-Rama, Dr. Stuart and Cindi Krost , Fringe & Company, Cliff Moitt Entertainment , Papa John’s , Classic Caterers, Peter and Janyce Speier , Dr Kevin Kessler, and St. Andrews School.