Playing for CHANGE The Rose Bowl Game gives back

Pasadena Unified School District

In partnership with Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) and their PUSD Awards program, the district’s recipients for Teacher of the Year, Principal of the Year, and Hero of the Year were recognized on the field during the first quarter of the 2023 Rose Bowl Game. Lance Mitchell, Head Coach of the 2022 CIF Championship winning John Muir High School Football Team, was also honored for his achievements at his alma mater. Each honoree was provided four tickets to the VIP Tailgate and the 109th Rose Bowl Game.

Mini Therapy Horses

During Bowl Week, the Rose Bowl Game hosted Mini Therapy Horses at the team hotels for the families of the participating teams. The Mini Therapy Horses have a long history of appearing at children’s hospitals, veteran hospitals, Los Angeles Family Housing, as well as participation in the Rose Parade. The Rose Bowl Game’s $2,000 donation assisted with horse transportation and uniforms as the Mini Therapy Horses continue their great work.

Rose Bowl Cares Kits

While in town for the 109th Rose Bowl Game, families from the University of Utah and Pennsylvania State University football teams came together to assemble hygiene kits for unhoused people in Los Angeles. Through a partnership with Walmart, 1,000 kits were assembled and included thermal blankets, toiletries, socks and masks for those in need. Following the game, the kits were delivered to the Midnight Mission in Los Angeles by the 2023 Royal Court.

Rose Bowl Game Tickets for Coaches

Courtesy of the Rose Bowl Game’s conference partners, the Big Ten and the PAC-12, 200 local high school football coaches received tickets to attend the 2023 Rose Bowl Game. More than 20 coaching staff were in attendance, including Alhambra High School, Arcadia High School Benjamin Franklin High School, Blair High School, Burbank High School, Crescenta Valley High School, Eagle Rock High School, Gabrielino High School, Glendale High School, John Muir High School, Mark Keppel High School, Monrovia High School, San Gabriel High School, San Marino High School, and Schurr High School.

High school coaches enrich the lives of the students they work with, and many coaches and their football programs have been adversely impacted by the pandemic. The ticket donation was a small way for the Rose Bowl Game to thank them and recognize their efforts, while pushing forward together, in hopes of more opportunities to partner in the future.

Rose Bowl Game Mentorship Program

In 2022, the Rose Bowl Game continued its annual Mentorship Program, selecting seven undergraduate students from local Southern California colleges to participate in virtual and in-person professional development meetings with Rose Bowl Game staff. The students were paired up with a staff member and mentored over an eight-week period through weekly calls that provided opportunities to network and build confidence towards their career goals. Mentees were given a behind-the-scenes look to learn what it takes to host the “The Granddaddy of Them All.” The mentorship culminated with their bowl week experience, with mentees enjoying several events, including the Lawry’s Beef Bowl, media day and the 109th Rose Bowl Game.

Points for Change

The 2023 Rose Bowl Game held its second annual in-game donation campaign called “Points for Change,” which highlights organizations that create change throughout the Greater Los Angeles community. This year, $100 for every point scored in the Utah and Penn State game was donated to Raise the Barr.

Raise The Barr’s story is personal for co-founders Lori Barr and Anthony Barr, who make it their mission to increase opportunity and economic mobility for single-parent families through education. This year, the game’s final score raised $5,600 which helped fund two scholarships for Raise The Barr recipients.

Community Open Practice Event

The Rose Bowl Game’s Community Open Practice Event returned to the bowl week schedule for the 2023 Game along with a new partnership with Snoop Youth Football League (SYFL). Founded by rapper and entertainer Snoop Dogg, SYFL is a non-profit organization that provides inner city children with the opportunity to participate in youth football and cheerleading. The two 12 and under teams selected to observe a Utah and Penn State practice were the Carson Colts and the Lynwood Knights. Following the practice, the youth football teams interacted with their favorite players, took photos and collected autographs. The young athletes and their families were also given tickets to the 109th Rose Bowl Game.

Keith Jackson Postgraduate Scholarship

In 2022, the Pasadena Tournament of Roses awarded the Rose Bowl Game Keith Jackson Postgraduate Scholarship to Marco-Antonio Salas (Arizona State University) and Ethan Weinstein (University of Wisconsin). Each recipient, who aims to pursue a career in the sports industry, was awarded a scholarship of $10,000 for their postgraduate education. Both recipients also received a specialized workstudy experience at the 2023 Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential.

The scholarship, which is given to a top undergraduate student from both the Big Ten and Pac-12 Conference, honors the late Keith Jackson, who was the voice of college football for decades and the originator of the Rose Bowl Game’s nickname, “The Grandaddy of Them All.”