Ditka & Jaws Help Kids with 13th Annual ‘Cigars with the Stars’ Fundraiser
NFL legend Ron Jaworski and NFL Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher are coming together again this year to host the
Ivy Griffith
NFL legend Ron Jaworski and NFL Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher are coming together again this year to host the 13th annual Ditka & Jaws Cigars with the Stars event.
The beloved annual event brings together celebrities, football fans and philanthropists for an evening of fundraising that benefits at-risk youth and retired NFL players.
This year’s event kicks off February 9 at the Hilton Phoenix Resort at the Peak, in Phoenix, Arizona, giving Super Bowl weekend the official welcome.
Here’s a look at what the event has to offer.
Ditka & Jaws: Cigars with the Stars 2023
Cigars with the Stars acts as the official kick-off party for Super Bowl LVII weekend.
The event brings together a star-studded red carpet with premium cigars from the industry’s top brands, an open bar, appetizers, silent auction with special memorabilia, music and so much more.
Sponsors include Diageo, Southern Recipe Small Batch, Barstool Sportsbook, Crown Royal, Johnnie Walker, Bulleit, Guinness, Covenance – Cantina and Zacapa.
Cigars with the Stars Helps both Children and Retired NFL Legends
The “Jaws” part of the collaborative event refers to the Jaws Youth Playbook (JYP), founded by Jaworski. The goal of JYP is to improve the overall health and wellness of at-risk youth, focusing primarily on the Greater Philidelphia region.
JYP raises funds through events like Cigars with the Stars, and hands out grants to programs that are creating positive impacts for youth health and wellness programs.
And the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund receives proceeds from the event as well, with a mission that focuses on assisting dire need retired NFL players who were pioneers of the game.
Services provided by Gridiron Greats includes medical assistance, transportation costs for medical evaluations and surgeries, housing assistance and financial assistance for living expenses.
Jaworski says of this year’s event in a statement, “This is the 13th annual Ditka & Jaws Cigars with the Stars party. This year, Brian and I are coming together to host what has become known as the official start of Super Bowl week, but more importantly we bring thousands of the most influential, most respected people, players in the sports industry together and spotlight the great work of both charities, Jaws Youth Playbook, and Gridiron Great Assistance Fund.”
Jaworski adds, “Without the support of my friends, family, the community, and the amazing sponsors, giving back through events of this magnitude would not be possible.”
This year’s event promises to be bigger and better than ever, with fans and guests joining together to raise money for two excellent causes.
While celebrating their love for football, cigars and the friendship of the sports world, people can make a real difference through the Cigars with a Stars event.