Escanaba, West Iron County & Other U.P. Schools Get All-Star Donations

MARQUETTE, MI – The U.P. Football All-Star Game continued its giving ways by announcing that two U.P. high school football teams will receive donations from the game this year. Escanaba and West Iron County High Schools will each have money donated directly to their football programs.

“When this game was started, it was always a goal that we would eventually be able to donate directly to all of the high school football programs throughout the U.P.”, said Todd Goldbeck.

The schools are picked at random each year. Once a school has been selected, that school will be removed from the lottery until all other schools have been chosen once.

“The lottery is a very fun way to select the schools”, said Goldbeck. “Every program is eligible, and it does not matter how successful the team is; everyone has a chance and gets a turn. It is very important that all U.P. programs are supported, so that each school can maintain a competitive team.”

Every U.P. football program will get an equal donation from the all-star game, in the amount of $1000, so the more successful the all-star game becomes, the more teams that can be selected as beneficiaries each year. The more successful the game is, the more schools can receive donations, and the quicker the process starts over again.

“This game would not be possible without the schools providing a positive environment for all of these student-athletes to succeed. Giving back to their football programs will hopefully help each school continue their individual football tradition”, states Goldbeck.

The football team of each school may choose to use the money in a number of ways. Equipment, maintenance, weight room and uniforms are just a few places that the school may decide will be the most effective use of the funds.

In addition to the two schools selected, the East and West All-Star head coaches will receive half of the footballs used during the week leading up to the game. There are 36 new footballs each year, so both All-Star head coaches get to take home 18 new balls. This year, Pickford and Calumet will get the footballs.

Also, all of the practice jerseys are donated to different U.P. football programs. There is a full set of white jerseys with red numbers that are going to North Central High School, and the red jerseys with white numbers are being given to Marquette High School. The schools can use the jerseys for their freshman or JV teams, as well as their varsity practice.

“When it is all said and done, I always to be in a position to say, The All-Star game did very well again this year. We gave back to many different groups/schools and the players had fun throughout the week. That is what All-Star Week is all about.”