The Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl – in conjunction with the College Football Playoff Foundation and Extra Yard for Teachers – will award area classrooms from Caddo, Bossier and DeSoto Parishes with a total of over $10,000 for education and enrichment programs.
The annual celebration of educators all over the country, Extra Yard for Teachers Week, is from September 10-18. The Big Day for Teachers will be celebrated on Tuesday, September 14. Local teachers were asked to submit their projects and initiatives to Donors Choose by Wednesday, September 8 to be eligible for this donation from the Independence Bowl.
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An Independence Bowl Foundation committee will decide which initiatives to fund through Donors Choose, and the recipients will be announced during Extra Yard for Teachers Week. This five-figure donation to local teachers will be the first initiative of the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl’s newly established philanthropic endeavor – 1st & Give.
This new philanthropic effort will also kickoff with a charity football tournament. The inaugural 1st & Give Charity Flag Football Tournament is scheduled for Saturday, October 9 at Independence Stadium. Each team will consist of seven players – including at least two female players, and the entry fee for each team is $350. The full entry fee will be donated to the 501(c)3 charitable organization of each team’s choice. Players must be at least 18 years old.
The tournament will be seven-on-seven flag football with play beginning at 10 a.m. It will begin with group play between teams in their respective divisions. Following group play, the highest-ranking teams from each division will advance to the playoff bracket to decide the winner of the tournament. The teams that come in first, second and third in the inaugural event will have the money in the pool donated to the charities that they chose to donate to.
Notable local and regional organizations that have already submitted a team include KTAL News 6/KMSS FOX 33, KSLA News 12, Cintas and Roppolo’s Insulation. Roppolo’s will be supporting the Giving Bak Foundation as their charity. To submit a team, contact the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl office at 318.221.0712 or email Logan Lewis at logan@independencebowl.org or Jennifer Rider at jennifer@independencebowl.org.
Fans are invited to watch the tournament at Independence Stadium and participate in the charitable giving. Fans will have the opportunity to donate to one of the team’s charities before the tournament begins and throughout group play. All of the proceeds will be given to the charity of choice, and everyone who donates to the charity of the team that wins the tournament will be entered into a raffle to win prizes. People who donate to a team’s charity will receive one raffle ticket for every $20 donated.
While the tournament is being played, the Independence Bowl Foundation Annual Member Fish Fry will be held in the north endzone of the stadium. Johnny’s Catfish will be frying catfish, chicken tenders and french fries for all Independence Bowl Foundation members. College football games on the day of the tournament will be played on the Independence Stadium video board. A cash bar will be available for Independence Bowl Foundation members. There will be activities and entertainment for children of all ages.
