Las Vegas Classic Organizers Make Donations to Local Community

LAS VEGAS - Organizers of the Inaugural Las Vegas Football Classic are stressing the "student" in student-athletes. The organizers are donating 1,500 backpacks to Las Vegas school children this weekend at the North Las Vegas Back to School Fair, while Clark County high school seniors will receive $10,000 in minority scholarships from Wells Fargo(tm).

With a rich, tradition-laden history in the Southeastern United States, the Historically Black College and University (HBCU) experience is rolling into Las Vegas.

"The main purpose in playing this game is to expose the youth of Las Vegas to a cultural event that is mostly foreign to them because of the generational dis-connect between African-Americans West of the Rocky Mountains and those back East," said executive director of the game, Jonathan Simon, who is a native of Louisiana. "An HBCU classic is about more than the final score, its about opportunity, community and unity. This game brings all of those elements to the City of Las Vegas. There are tremendous opportunities for our kids at these schools, and we just want them to be aware of that."

The 2003 Las Vegas Football Classic has also delivered on its guarantee of providing both universities more than $400,000 each, including expenses, making it one of the highest payouts in black college sports. Organizers have also donated $5,000 to the Las Vegas Chapter of the NAACP, donated 100 tickets to local Boys and Girls Clubs, sponsored the Las Vegas High School Step Show, the Las Vegas Black Business Expo and the Las Vegas Martin Luther King Jr. Parade.

Tickets for the game to be played Sept. 13 at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas between Southern University and North Carolina A&T State University begin at $13. Battle of the Bands tickets for Friday, Sept. 12 at the Thomas & Mack Center, are $20. Game time for the Jaguars and the Aggies is 6:00 p.m., fans nationwide are encouraged to check their local television listings.

Urban Sports & Entertainment Group (USEG), which for 10 years has been one of the largest HBCU sports marketing firms in the country, has teamed with New Creation Productions of Las Vegas, owned by Simon, to host the event. USEG clients include the Bayou Classic, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Basketball Tournament, the Ford Black College Football Road Trip and the Honda Battle of the Bands. USEG has raised more than $13 million on behalf of HBCUs and their programs.

To learn more about the Las Vegas Football Classic visit vegasfootballclassic.com or call 702-804-5529.

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