Tigers center fielder Curtis Granderson is offering fourth-grade students in Michigan schools the chance to be illustrators for his new book, All You Can Be.
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Kid Rock, Billy Sims, Braylon Edwards added to Curtis Granderson Celebrity Shootout Rosters; Trip for two to World Baseball Classic to be drawn

January 13, 2009 – Kid Rock leads the new list of commitments for the 2nd Annual Curtis Granderson/Grand Kids Foundation Celebrity Shootout, taking place at Lake Orion High School on January 17 at 4 p.m. Doors open to fans at 3 p.m.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for children and students with a valid ID and can be purchased at the Lake Orion High School Athletic Office, DC Sports in Sterling Heights or online at www.GrandKidsFoundation.org. Children two and under will be admitted free. The first 500 fans will receive an autographed picture of Granderson.

The Celebrity Shootout is just part of the Grand Kids Foundation Charity Weekend, which begins Thursday, January 14 with school visits in the Detroit area. On Friday, following more school visits, An Evening With Curtis Granderson will be held at Andiamo and Second City in Novi, which includes a social hour, dinner, an auction and a live comedy improv show at the legendary Second City, followed by an afterglow. Following the game on Saturday, an after-party will be held at Black Finn in Royal Oak to raise money for Grand Kids Foundation. A silent auction will also be held that evening.

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. At least one college scholarship program will also be started with the weekend's proceeds.

Kid Rock is one of Detroit's most cherished homegrown artists. He is currently nominated for Grammy Awards in the categories of Best Rock Album for Rock N Roll Jesus and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for his hit song All Summer Long.

The Romeo, Mich. Native has previously been nominated for Grammy Awards three times. He has also earned three American Music Awards and three Billboard Music Awards.

"I can't express how excited I am that Kid Rock would choose to help the inner city educational system in Michigan by playing in this game," Granderson said. "This event is one I am very proud of. We are able to raise a lot of money for the schools through this event, and Kid Rock's involvement will undoubtedly help raise more money for education across this state."

Heisman Trophy winner and Detroit Lions legend Billy Sims has also committed to play. Sims won the 1978 Heisman Trophy at Oklahoma before becoming a three-time Pro Bowl selection for the Detroit Lions. His career was cut short due to injuries, but he is still considered one of the best running backs in NFL history.

"(Granderson) seems to be a great young individual who is doing a lot of necessary work in a hard-hit area," Sims said. "I am honored and excited to be included in this event."

Braylon Edwards, an NFL All-Pro with the Cleveland Browns and a former star at the Univ. of Michigan will compete for the second straight year. Edwards won last year's MVP award after a high-flying arsenal of dunks gave his team a one-point victory.

Another Univ. of Michigan star, swimmer Peter Vanderkaay, will play in the game. Vanderkaay won a gold medal and set a world record in the 800 meter freestyle relay at the 2008 Olympic Games and won a bronze in the 200 meter freestyle. He also won a relay gold in the 2004 Olympic Games.

TNA Wrestling star Rhino, a Tigers season ticket holder, will also play along with star high school running back Edwin Baker from Oak Park. Baker will play football at Michigan State next year.

Former Michigan football stars Drew Henson and David Terrell, and former Lions fullback Cory Schlesinger will also compete.

Finalizing the rosters are Lake Orion teachers Jim Manzo and Don McLaughlin.

"This game is going to be bigger and better than last year," Granderson said. "To get players the caliber of Kid Rock and Billy Sims', and then to add in an Olympic swimmer and a pro wrestler with some other great names on top of our early commitments will give pretty much any fan of sports or television something to see at this game. I am even more excited that all of these players are doing this from their hearts. Some even cancelled other events to come up to Michigan and help our inner city schools. I am grateful to them."

All game tickets will also serve as raffle tickets, and this year's prizes will be spectacular. The two grand prizes are a private batting practice with Granderson and a trip for two to Toronto to watch the March 7 World Baseball Classic games, an event Granderson has committed to playing in for Team USA. Venezuela will also compete in Toronto, leaving open the possibility of seeing many Tigers players in action.

Other raffle prizes include a free set of tires from Belle Tire, Michigan vs. Michigan State basketball tickets, Tigers tickets, Pistons tickets, Fatheads, passes to Six Flags Great America and gift cards from Overstock.com and Macy's.

Previous commitments for the game included 2008 Miss America Kirsten Haglund, UFC light heavyweight champion "Sugar" Rashad Evans, 2007 Playmate of the Year Sara Jean Underwood, Project Runway designer Joe Faris, former Heisman Trophy winner and Super Bowl MVP Desmond Howard, And1 Mixtape Tour star Jamal "Springs" Nelson, ESPN First Take host Dana Jacobson and former NFL stars Lomas Brown, Herman Moore and Tyrone Wheatley.

Granderson will serve as a coach, joined by celebrity coaches Lloyd Carr, Cheryl Ford and Rick Mahorn. Lake Orion High School varsity men's and women's coaches Lance Davis and Steve Roberts 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. Mahorn is currently a Detroit Shock coach, but is well-known as his days as one of the "Bad Boys" from the first Pistons championship teams.

Andre Dirrell, a highly-ranked Supermiddleweight boxer, will no longer be able to compete after he scheduled a title fight for February.

For more information on the 2nd Annual Curtis Granderson/Grand Kids Foundation Charity Weekend, or the foundation itself, visit www.CurtisGranderson.com or www.GrandKidsFoundation.org.


2009 Curtis Granderson Celebrity Basketball Game Commitments
Edwin Baker – Oak Park HS football star/Michigan State recruit
Lomas Brown – former Detroit Lions All-Pro
Braylon Edwards – NFL All-Pro/former Michigan football star
"Sugar" Rashad Evans – UFC star; 12-0-1
Joe Faris – Project Runway Season 5 Designer
Kirsten Haglund – 2008 Miss America
Drew Henson – Lions quarterback/former Michigan football and baseball star
Desmond Howard – Super Bowl MVP; Heisman Trophy winner
Dana Jacobson – ESPN First Take host; X-Games host
Jim Manzo – Lake Orion Teacher
Don McLaughlin – Lake Orion Teacher
Herman Moore – former Detroit Lions All-Pro
Kid Rock – Award-winning entertainer
Jamal "Springs" Nelson – And1 Mixtape Tour star
Cory Schlesinger – former Lions star
Billy Sims – Heisman Trophy winner/Lions legend
David Terrell – former Michigan football star
Sara Jean Underwood – 2007 Playboy Playmate of the Year
Peter Vanderkaay – Two-time Olympic gold-medal winning swimmer
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
Coach Rick Mahorn – former Pistons star/Shock coach
Coach Lance Davis – Lake Orion boys varsity basketball coach
Coach Steve Roberts – Lake Orion girls varsity basketball coach