Look To The Stars News: Grand Kids Foundation

Curtis Granderson Hosts Charity Bachelor Auction

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Major League Baseball player Curtis Granderson hosted a charity wine evening and bachelor auction last night, July 23, to raise money for his Grand Kids Foundation.

The Detroit Tigers star raised around $40,000 for his foundation – which he established to help underprivileged children in Detroit and other areas – and the auction saw some of his MLB friends go under the hammer as eligible bachelors. Memorabilia from Magic Johnson, Joe Montana and Kid Rock was also sold for the cause. Two women paid over $6,000 each for dates with Granderson.

The foundation helps provide educational resources for schools and students in need while establishing scholarship programs in Detroit and Flint, and providing equipment for inner-city athletics programs.

“The importance of education is something I cannot stress enough to our nation’s youth, and I want to help find ways to ease the burden within some of these inner city schools while also striving to make learning more fun,” said Granderson. “Facilities and supplies are old and worn, classrooms are overcrowded, and scholarship programs are limited.”

Curtis Granderson Talks Charity Basketball

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Major League Baseball player Curtis Granderson recently talked to Mlive.com about his upcoming charity basketball game.

“My off-season is different from anyone else’s,” he said in the interview. "Last year, I wanted to do a big event, but didn’t want to seem like I was copying everyone else. A lot of athletes have done bowling events. I love basketball, so I thought that may be a good fit.

“As for rounding up participants – it has been easy. They all have a passion for wanting to help out the educational system in Michigan’s inner cities. They believe in the cause. I didn’t want to just bring in names to bring in names. I wanted to bring in people who believe in what my foundation is trying to do.”

The second annual Celebrity Shootout will take place on Saturday, January 17, at Lake Orion High School north of Detroit, and will benefit the Grand Kids Foundation, a charity Granderson established to help underprivileged children in Detroit and other areas. Expected to take part in the event are former University of Michigan head football coach Lloyd Carr, WNBA Detroit Shock forward Sheryl Ford, former Detroit Lions All-Pro players Herman Moore and Lomas Brown, former Michigan football and NFL standout Tyrone Wheatley, former Super Bowl MVP and Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard, UFC star “Sugar” Rashad Evans, professional boxing super-middleweight Andre Dirrell, 2008 Miss America winner Kirsten Haglund, ESPN anchor Dana Jacobson, 2007 Playboy Playmate of the Year Sara Jean Underwood, and Project Runway’sJoe Faris.

“Right now every dollar counts,” said Granderson. "Of course we have goals, but those can be greedy. With the economy in the position it is in throughout Michigan right now, we just have to cross our fingers. It’s tough to ask people during this time to come out and pay $20 per person to watch a bunch of celebrities play basketball.

“I do want them to know, though, that my foundation has zero operating costs. We don’t pay employees or pay for celebrities to come in for this event. We have also had some groups jump in with in-kind sponsorships such as the Townsend Hotel, to help with those costs as well. Every penny on every dollar goes to this cause.”

Advance tickets for the event are available on the Grand Kids Foundation Web site at www.grandkidsfoundation.org or at www.curtisgranderson.com, and the complete interview can be read here.

Curtis Granderson Announces Charity Weekend & Celebrity Basketball Game

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

Detroit Tigers outfielder Curtis Granderson and his Grand Kids Foundation will host their second annual Celebrity Shootout on Saturday, January 17, at Lake Orion High School north of Detroit.

“Now more than ever, Michigan’s public schools need assistance,” Granderson said. “The goal of this year’s event is to raise funds to help the individual students in these public schools, whether it’s for assistance with school supplies or college scholarships. Last year, I was so proud of the way the community not only came out to support this event, but to support the inner-city schools in Michigan. The players had fun, the fans had fun and the schools benefited. This year’s event promises to be bigger and better.”

‘Bigger and better’ will include a full weekend of activities, such as an evening of food and comedy the night before tip-off. Granderson will again act as coach for the basketball game, which will pair up former Detroit-area athletes with local and national celebrities.

Expected to take part are former University of Michigan head football coach Lloyd Carr, WNBA Detroit Shock forward Sheryl Ford, former Detroit Lions All-Pro players Herman Moore and Lomas Brown, former Michigan football and NFL standout Tyrone Wheatley, former Super Bowl MVP and Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard, UFC star “Sugar” Rashad Evans, professional boxing super-middleweight Andre Dirrell, 2008 Miss America winner Kirsten Haglund, ESPN anchor Dana Jacobson, 2007 Playboy Playmate of the Year Sara Jean Underwood, Joe Faris (Project Runway) and some dunking acrobatics courtesy of And1 Mixtape Tour star “Springs.”

More athletes and personalities are expected to commit as the event nears.

“This is an amazing group of early commitments for this game — both players and coaches,” Granderson said. “We not only have a lot of great athletes, but we have a lot of great personalities, which will make this a fun atmosphere for not only those of us involved in the game, but the fans that will be coming out.”

Tickets to the game are $20 for adults and $15 for students with a student ID, including collegians. A VIP ticket for $60 includes access to the after-party. Each ticket at any level will be put into a raffle for prizes such as a private batting practice with Granderson, Tigers tickets and gift certificates to local businesses.
Tickets for the dinner and comedy show run at $75 per person, or $110 with access to the afterglow party, and must be purchased by Jan. 6.
Those who wish to attend all the events can buy an all-access pass for $150.

Advance tickets for each event at various levels are available on the Grand Kids Foundation Web site at www.grandkidsfoundation.org or at www.curtisgranderson.com

Baseball Star Shoots Hoops For Charity

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 09:25:04 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

Detroit Tigers’ leadoff man and center fielder Curtis Granderson will swap his baseball bat for a basketball later this month to raise money for his Grand Kids Foundation. Granderson will join fellow Tiger Nate Robertson and others to hoop it up on January 26 for the inaugural Curtis Granderson/Grand Kids Foundation Celebrity Basketball Game at Avondale High School in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

The game will pit current and former athletes from the Detroit area against athletes from the Flint area, with Granderson coaching the Detroit team and Robertson coaching the Flint team. Halftime excitement will come in the form in a three-point shootout between Granderson and Robertson. Each will represent a fan selected at random, and the winner will enjoy lunch with Granderson before joining him for a private batting practice session at Comerica Park.

“I am not only excited for this event because I finally get to showcase my basketball skills, but I am excited because I believe this game will begin to provide us with the financial resources to make a large impact in the inner cities, specifically Detroit and Flint,” said Granderson.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Grand Kids Foundation, which Granderson established to help inner-city students in Chicago, Detroit, and elsewhere. The foundation helps provide educational resources for schools and students in need while establishing scholarship programs in Detroit and Flint, and providing equipment for inner-city athletics programs.

“The importance of education is something I cannot stress enough to our nation’s youth, and I want to help find ways to ease the burden within some of these inner city schools while also striving to make learning more fun,” said the 26-year-old. “Facilities and supplies are old and worn, classrooms are overcrowded, and scholarship programs are limited. This celebrity basketball game can help to change that.”

The list of participants includes former NFL stars Tyrone Wheatley, Andre Weathers, and Courtney Hawkins, former NBA sharpshooters Willie Burton and Jeff Grayer, UFC competitor Rashad Evans, and professional boxer Anthony Dirrell. Granderson and other participants will take part in an autograph session following the game. Tickets for the game cost $15 for adults and $10 for children aged 10 and under, and are available at www.grandkidsfoundation.org. Admission for the postgame autograph session is an additional $10. The doors will open at 5 p.m. ET, with tipoff scheduled for 6 p.m. ET.

Look To The Stars News: Grand Kids Foundation

Curtis Granderson Hosts Charity Bachelor Auction

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