SAN FRANCISCO –San Francisco set the stage for the NFL’s 50-year Super Bowl anniversary and the 29th Annual Leigh Steinberg Super Bowl Party which kicked off at noon on Saturday, Feb. 6th. The party provided a star-studded backdrop for the second annual Steinberg-DeNicola Humanitarian Awards, honoring members of the NFL family for outstanding contributions to their communities and their fellow man. The event was held at the CityView at METREON in downtown San Francisco.
The Steinberg-DeNicola Humanitarian Awards, created by renowned agent Leigh Steinberg and agency partner Cosmo DeNicola, co-owner of the Arena Football League’s Philadelphia Soul, were introduced in 2015 to generate awareness for the positive side of professional football that is often overshadowed or under-reported. The awards recognize the charitable initiatives and personal efforts of NFL team owners, general managers or senior executives, head coaches, players and retired players.
At a special ceremony conducted during this year’s party, Steinberg and DeNicola presented the 2016 awards to Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam, Executive VP and COO of the former St. Louis (now Los Angeles) Rams Kevin Demoff, Oakland Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio, Browns head coach Hue Jackson, Super Bowl champion and Pro Bowl wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers Anquan Boldin, and former Minnesota Vikings safety Jack Brewer, founder and executive director of The Jack Brewer Foundation.
“This years’ honorees are an extraordinary group of individuals who have used their platforms in the NFL to change people’s lives for the better,” said Steinberg. “Cosmo and I are extremely proud to be able to recognize the important work they do and the sacrifices they make to give back to the community and make a difference.”
DeNicola added, “These awards are a special testament to the caliber of great people in professional football – the real winners who inspire all of us to be better and do better.”
Continuing its long-held tradition of giving back through philanthropic causes, the Leigh Steinberg Super Bowl Party will donate proceeds from the event’s silent sports memorabilia auction to the non-profits supported by the Steinberg-DeNicola Humanitarian Award winners. This year’s event also included live satellite video communications with members of U.S. Armed Forces units overseas, allowing celebrities, star athletes and party guests to interact directly with troops stationed abroad. In addition, the event served to host the first-ever Brain Health Summit presented by the Global Brain Health Coalition, exploring research and solutions for the growing epidemic of concussion-related injuries.
Described as “the granddaddy of Super Bowl parties,” Steinberg’s invitation-only charity bash attracts luminaries from the worlds of sports, business, media and entertainment, including Hall of Famers, movie stars, CEOs and politicians. Past attendees include Kevin Costner, George Clooney, LL Cool J, Gabrielle Union, Andre 3000, Jeremy Piven, Cameron Crowe, Oliver Stone and Serena Willi ams.