Big Game Big Give to honor NBA icon, philanthropist Dikembe Mutombo
Staff Reports | Digital Free Press
The Giving Back Fund is announcing NFL Star J.J. Watt — the 2017 Sports Illustrated and Walter Payton Man of the Year — to co-hosting Big Game Big Give.
The star-studded charity party returns to the Valley of the Sun the night before the Saturday, February 11, at 6 p.m. This is the 25th anniversary of The Giving Back Fund and 12th Annual Big Game Big Give, which is by invitation only and attracts celebrities, athletes and philanthropists from around the country.
“I am honored that The Giving Back Fund has chosen the Justin J. Watt Foundation as one of the beneficiaries for this great event,” said J.J. Watt in a prepared statement. “While I am very much looking forward to the evening, I’m even more excited about the way we’re going to utilize these funds to help kids in underfunded areas all across the country.”
Mr. Watt played 12 seasons in the NFL, setting franchise records for sacks and forced fumbles and is widely considered a future FLY Hall of Fame inductee.
A portion of proceeds raised at the event will benefit the Justin J. Watt Foundation, whose mission is to provide afterschool opportunities for middle-school aged children in the community to become involved in athletics.
Produced by 10 Fold Entertainment, the event is traditionally held at an exclusive private estate the night before the Big Game in the respective host city.
Big Game Big Give to honor NBA icon,
philanthropist Dikembe Mutombo
In 2015, The Giving Back Fund raised more than $1.5 million in the Valley of the Sun when Big Game Big Give was held at former Major League Baseball All-Star Matt and (Erika) Williams’ private home and hosted by Mark Wahlberg and Michael Bay.
With a goal of raising $2 million, the 2023 Big Game Big Give will be held at the 5-acre private estate of Dr. Pablo Prichard in the Town of Paradise Valley. Work has already begun to transform the magnificent home and estate for the celebration.
During the event, the Vincere Foundation will be honored for its life saving work in the prevention, early detection, and treatment of cancer in Firefighters and First Responders. Arizona’s firefighters will also be recognized at the event, and, to commemorate those firefighters, a special Fire and Elements theme will be incorporated into the evening.
NBA Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo, who played 18 NBA seasons for the Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks and Houston Rockets, will be honored during the event.
Mr. Mutombo will receive The Giving Back Fund’s Award for Extraordinary Philanthropic Achievement, which from that night forward will be renamed in his honor and will be presented by former NFL Hall of Fame Linebacker Ray Lewis.
