Braylon Edwards Hosts Annual Celebrity Basketball Game
ANN ARBOR (WWJ) - New York Jets wide-receiver and University of Michigan All-American, Braylon Edwards, and The Braylon Edwards Foundation will host its Annual Celebrity Basketball Game on April 15 at Pioneer High School from 7:30 until 9:30 pm. Doors open at 6:30 pm.
Although the final roster won't be released until April 15, a number of athletes and personalities have confirmed their participation in the event.
The confirmed roster so far includes: former U of M players Mike Hart and Marlin Jackson (Indianapolis Colts), Steve Breaston (Arizona Cardinals), Ryan Mundy (Pittsburgh Steelers), Britt Davis (Denver Broncos), Vernon Gholston (New York Jets), Willis McGahee (Baltimore Ravens), Sam Shields (Green Bay Packers), Devin Thomas (New York Giants), Dre Bly, Rob Parker (WDIV and ESPN), Dr. Darrius (WJLB), and Jimmy King (Fab 5).
The halftime show features a scholarship presentation from Braylon to the University of Michigan student who is the recipient of his scholarship endowment.
There will also be a $10,000 half-court shot contest. Event concessions are sponsored by Top Chef contestant, Eve Aranoff's restaurant, Frita Badito.
Proceeds from the event will go to the University of Michigan's A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute. Funds collected from this event will benefit ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig's disease) research being conducted by the scientists of the Taubman Institute. Dr. Eva Feldman, director of the Taubman Institute, has developed a groundbreaking stem cell treatment for ALS, which is currently receiving its human clinic trials. Funding from this event will help Dr. Feldman continue her research.
Edwards, the former U-M football star, became interested in ALS when he learned of the large number of athletes who have fallen victim to the disease because of sports-related injuries. For this reason, the celebrity basketball game is being held this year the evening before the annual U-M spring football game.
Also as part of the event, the Braylon Edwards Foundation is hosting a silent auction and a 50-50 raffle to benefit the Taubman Institute. The silent auction features many sports items as well as gift certificates from local businesses.
All tickets for this event will be general admission. General admission tickets are $15; student tickets are $10, and VIP tickets are $100.
To order tickets, visit this website or call the Michigan Athletic Ticket Office at (866) 296-6849.
Established by NFL player and Detroit native, Braylon Edwards, the Braylon Edwards Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to addressing and meeting the needs of under-served youth in the concentrated areas of education, health and fitness as well as underserved health interests.
