The Giving Back Fund was proud to host the 12th Annual Big Game Big Give.  It  was held on, February 11th, 2023.

The Renowned, Star-Studded Party was hosted by J.J. Watt and Actor Anthony Anderson, featured a performance by Gavin DeGraw, plus celebrity appearances by The Bosa Brothers, Ben Savage, AnnaLynne McCord, Patrick Willis, Ray Lewis, Terrell Davis and many more!

Former Phoenix Suns and LA Lakers player Cedric Ceballos served as the event emcee and DJ the party, which was held at the 5-acre private estate of Dr. Pablo Prichard in Paradise Valley, Arizona.

Also, in attendance that night was recently retired NFL Star J.J. Watt, the man considered to be one of the greatest defensive linemen of all time and the 2017 Sports Illustrated and Walter Payton Man of the Year. Watt co-hosted Big Game Big Give, alongside Actor and Comedian Anthony Anderson.  Anthony Anderson said, “I have my own foundation, the Anderson Family Foundation”. “We’ve been going strong for five years now. When I make the call, people show up. When I get the call, I have to show up. It’s about giving back to the community and giving back to firefighters and honoring people like Dikembe Mutombo and giving to various charities who need our help.” 

Marc Pollick, the President and Founder of The Giving Back Fund, said 100 celebrities and 400 other people purchased $3,000 tickets to attend the Super Bowl party. He said the nonprofit is celebrating its 25th anniversary. The charity event brings in a lot of donations from parties it hosts at the Super Bowl host city’s flashiest homes. “What will stay with you is that you did something meaningful and significant to help others. The charities that will benefit here will truly save lives, and that matters,” said Pollick.

Pollick says that the highest amount the charity event has raised is $1.6 million. The home loaned for the party happened to be in the same Paradise Valley neighborhood back in 2015.

Singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw also attended the party. He performed on the piano his hits “I Don’t Want To Be,” “Chariot,” and “Not Over You,” and on one of them, the home’s owner Dr. Prichard joined in.

Before the night ended, Arizona firefighters offered guests a runway show on a platform built on top of a pool. They were wearing body armor as they walked during a pyro show. The charity event also honored firefighters and first responders Saturday night.

The Giving Back Fund is also proud to honor the extraordinary philanthropic record of the legendary humanitarian and NBA Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo.

Mutombo will receive The Giving Back Fund’s Award for Extraordinary Philanthropic Achievement. The award will be presented by NFL Hall of Fame Linebacker Ray Lewis. Mutombo is currently undergoing treatment for a brain tumor. Several retired athletes from the NBA was on hand to accept the award on his behalf.

"I am honored and deeply humbled to be asked to present this year's Excellence in Philanthropy award to my dear friend and business partner, Dikembe Mutombo,” said Ray Lewis, NFL Hall of Fame Linebacker with the Baltimore Ravens. "I've witnessed firsthand Dikembe's commitment to investing in communities, in his homeland of the Congo and throughout the world, his passion for supporting young men and women in our collaboration with Spire Academy, and his global humanitarian spirit to represent change and impact wherever he goes. He sets the bar that we all should aspire to reach.”

Mutombo also will receive a custom-designed art piece made by world-renowned Artist and Sculptor, Michael Kalish. Kalish is known for his dimensional contemporary pop icons, florals, and large scale public work, most notably “realize,” the world’s largest monumental tribute to Muhammad Ali. Notable collectors include Muhammad Ali, Michael Phelps, Ringo Starr, Dak Prescott, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Danica Patrick, Jim Brown, Lady Gaga, and many more.

A portion of proceeds raised at the event will benefit the Justin J. Watt Foundation as well as the Vincere Foundation. The Vincere Foundation will also 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.

Executive produced by 10 Fold Entertainment, other special experiences for guests that night included a live auction with a multi-million dollar Bing Hu inspired Penthouse going up for bid at the exclusive Silverleaf ICON Development. Opening bid was $10.5 million and at least one million dollars will be donated to The Giving Back Fund with a winning bid. Other auction items included once-in-a-lifetime experiences, plus a unique silent auction, food stations, cocktail bars, tea experience, salt healing room, crystal art by Gaea Rare, Shiralign sound bowls, underwater art experience by Christy Lee Rogers, flaming metal art sculptures by Sean T French, fashion show honoring AZ firefighters curated by ArtxShanna, and more!

The Giving Back Fund is celebrating its 25th year. 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 MLB All-Star Matt and (Erika) Williams’ private home and hosted by Mark Wahlberg and Michael Bay.

Sponsors included Icon at Silverleaf, Tequila Komos, Modern Luxury Magazines, Casino Arizona, Spinato's Pizzeria and Family Kitchen, Los Sombreros, One Hope, Four Peaks Brewing Company, Tito's Handmade Vodka, Vera Wang Party Prosecco, Yanikeke Foods, Girl About Town, Fairytale Brownies, Sprinkles Cupcakes, Sushi Sen, Evolution STL/Coalition Footwear, Stone Ledge Distillery, and DEFY Drinks.

About The Giving Back Fund

The Giving Back Fund is a national nonprofit organization that encourages and facilitates charitable giving by professional athletes, celebrities, high net worth individuals, existing nonprofit organizations, corporations and others who truly desire to give back. We provide philanthropic consulting, management and administrative services while operating as a flexible, convenient vehicle for establishing individual foundations and fiscally sponsored projects under a governance structure like that of a community foundation. By offering a straightforward and cost-effective approach to philanthropy, high-level expertise and professional services, and carefully targeted giving opportunities, The Giving Back Fund helps those who want to give back to society and to the communities that have nurtured them. To learn more about The Giving Back Fund, please visit https://www.givingback.org.

About Dr. Pablo Prichard and Vincere Foundation

Pablo Prichard, M.D. has been the Chief of Plastic Surgery at Honor Health/ John C. Lincoln Hospital for 14 years, Medical Director for Plastic Surgery and is Senior Partner at Advanced Aesthetics Associates. Dr. Prichard has served more than 2,000 patients every year and has specialized in both reconstructive and cosmetic procedures. For more information, visit drscottsdale.com and follow-on Instagram and TikTok @docscottdale.

The Vincere Foundation was founded by Dr. Prichard and Dr. Shukla and established for the purpose of research into prevention, early detection, and treatment of cancer in Firefighters and First Responders. Firefighters and first responders risk their lives for us on a daily basis. Heart disease and trauma used to be the #1 and #2 causes of death in active-duty firefighters and first responders, however, cancer has now emerged as the largest cause of death, with 60% of all on-duty deaths. Cancer in these heroes has grown exponentially due to three main factors: 1. Increase in the toxins emitted in synthetic building materials and flame retardants which has become increasingly used in construction and furniture/flooring; 2. Increased job stress and PTSD; and 3. Increased breaks in the circadian rhythm/sleep wake cycle disruptions, which together with increased stress, lowers the immune system increasing the chance for cancer. With the right amount of talent, funding, and passion, we can protect those who protect us and make firefighter and first responder occupational cancers a thing of the past.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE GIVING BACK FUND, GO TO https://givingback.org/