The 2nd Annual Curtis Granderson/Grand Kids Foundation Charity Weekend is slated for Jan. 16-17, ending with the Curtis Granderson Celebrity Shoot-Out at Lake Orion High School. All proceeds for the weekend will benefit the Grand Kids Foundation, which was founded by Curtis Granderson in order to assist Michigan’s inner city schools.

On Friday, January 16, fans can attend “An Evening With Curtis Granderson” in Novi. A buffet dinner will be provided by Andiamo Novi at 7 p.m., followed by a performance at the legendary comedy improve theatre The Second City at 8 p.m. Tickets to “An Evening With Curtis Granderson” will be $75 per person, and includes the dinner and show. VIP tickets which will include VIP access to the afterglow at Dirty Martini can be purchased for $110.

On Saturday, January 17, the 2nd Annual Celebrity Shoot-Out will be held at Lake Orion High School at 4 p.m. Tickets to the game will be $20 for adults and $15 for all students, including college, with a valid student ID. Game tickets will also serve as raffle tickets, which will include prizes such as Detroit Tigers tickets, gift certificates to local businesses and a private batting practice by Granderson.

Fans wishing to attend all of the weekend’s events, including a VIP after-party on the evening of the 17th (location to be determined), can purchase the all-access pass for $150.

To purchase advance tickets, visit www.GrandKidsFoundation.org. There are limited quantities available for “An Evening With Curtis Granderson” and the VIP after-parties.

“Now more than ever, Michigan’s public schools need assistance. The goal of this year’s event is to raise funds to help the individual students in these public schools, whether it for assistance with school supplies or college scholarships,” Granderson said. “Last year I was so proud of the way the community not only came out to support this event, but to support the inner city schools in Michigan. The players had fun, the fans had fun and the schools benefited. This year’s event promises to be bigger and better.”

A more diverse crop of players will be featured in this year’s game.

2008 Miss America Kirsten Haglund and 2007 Playboy Playmate of the Year Sara Jean Underwood have committed to participate along with Project Runway Season 5 Designer Joe Faris. ESPN personality Dana Jacobson has also committed to play.

Fans looking to see a more above-the-rim game will get to see And1 Mixtape Tour star Jamal Nelson, a.k.a. Springs.

Former NFL stars Lomas Brown, Herman Moore and Tyrone Wheatley have also committed to play. Brown and Moore were All-Pro performers with the Detroit Lions are were named to the Lions 75th Anniversary Team.

Returning from last year’s game are UFC star “Sugar” Rashad Evans, Super Bowl MVP and Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard and professional boxer Andre Dirrell, who continues to work his way up the Supermiddleweight rankings.

Granderson will again serve as a coach, joined by celebrity coaches Lloyd Carr and Cheryl Ford. Lake Orion High School varsity men’s and women’s coaches will also be a part of the coaching staffs. Carr was the legendary football coach at the University of Michigan, leading the team to five Big Ten titles and the 1997 national championship. Ford has led the WNBA in rebounds three times in her young career and has been a member of three WNBA championship teams with the Detroit Shock.

“This is an amazing group of early commitments for this game – both players and coaches. We not only have a lot of great athletes, but we have a lot of great personalities, which will make this a fun atmosphere for not only those of us involved in the game, but the fans that will be coming out,” Granderson stated.

More players and coaches are expected to commit leading up to the game. For more information on the 2nd Annual Curtis Granderson/Grand Kids Foundation Charity Weekend, visit www.GrandKidsFoundation.org.

2009 Curtis Granderson Celebrity Basketball Game Commitments

• Lomas Brown – former Detroit Lions All-Pro
• Andre Dirrell – Pro boxer; 17-0; #7 Rank at Supermiddleweight
• “Sugar” Rashad Evans – UFC star; 12-0-1
• Joe Faris – Project Runway Season 5 Designer
• Kirsten Haglund – 2008 Miss America
• Desmond Howard – Super Bowl MVP; Heisman Trophy winner
• Dana Jacobson – ESPN First Take host; X-Games host
• Herman Moore – former Detroit Lions All-Pro
• Jamal “Springs” Nelson – And1 Mixtape Tour star
• Sara Jean Underwood – 2007 Playboy Playmate of the Year
• Tyrone Wheatley – former Michigan/NFL football star

• Coach Lloyd Carr – former Michigan football coach
• Coach Cheryl Ford – Detroit Shock forward
• Coach Curtis Granderson – Detroit Tigers center fielder

Game Prices:
$20 - Adults
$15 - Children and students (with current college/high school ID)
Free - Children 2 and under