Los Angeles, CA – DJ Swearinger Sr (Arizona Cardinals) is returning to his alma mater in Columbia, South Carolina to host his annual celebrity charity basketball game to raise money for The Boys & Girls Club of the Midlands. He has teamed up with USC, SC State, and Clemson Alumni NFL Stars to create an unforgettable evening of fun while giving back to the community and providing our youth the opportunity to meet Carolina and NFL greats.
He has teamed up with a number of South Carolina greats to bring a fun and engaging event to fans throughout the state to make a positive impact. The event roster currently includes Super Bowl Champion Stephon Gilmore (New England Patriots), first round pick Hayden Hurst (Baltimore Ravens), Brandon Shell (New York Jets), Mike Davis (Chicago Bears), Pharoh Cooper (Arizona Cardinals), Melvin Ingram (Los Angeles Chargers), Corey Robinson (Jacksonville Jaguars), Akeem Auguste (NFL veteran), Tori Gurley (NFL veteran, analyst for NFL Network, Fox Sports and SEC Network), Brandon Wilds (Arizona Cardinals), Jakar Hamilton (free agent), Antonio Hamilton (New York Giants), Bashaud Breeland (Green Bay Packers), Louis Murphy Jr (free agent), Fadol Brown (Green Bay Packers), Isaiah Johnson (Indianapolis Colts), Greg Stroman (Washington Redskins), Deshazor Everett (Washington Redskins), DeVonte Holloman (NFL veteran), Rokevious Watkins (free agent), Quinton Dunbar (Washington Redskins), Skai Moore (Indianapolis Colts), and Adonis Alexander (Washington Redskins).
"When my friends and I were in college, we never had NFL players to come back and show love at Carolina. Once we got into the NFL, we always said we wanted to do something to bring NFL players back to South Carolina so we could give back to our community and bring smiles to the kids' faces. That's why I started my annual celebrity charity basketball game," shared DJ Swearinger Sr.
DJ Swearinger Sr recently founded his not-for-profit, 2 Spoonz Foundation, with the aim to give back to under-privileged kids and make a positive impact within his community. Last year Swearinger Sr sponsored 50 kids from The Boys & Girls Club, 25 kids for the Big Brother/Big Sister program. He is excited to grow his ability to help more children by way of his foundation.
“Community and giving back is everything to me. If I can help change their lives and inspire them that anything is possible, then I know I have done my job.
“I wanted to give the kids the opportunity to meet professional athletes as I know the struggle in South Carolina and how important it is to have positive role models. We don't have a professional team, and our community only gets to see professional athletes on the TV. South Carolina doesn't have the same opportunities as the big cities.
“When I was 10, I met Dennis Adams, and he told me to keep chasing my dream to go to the NFL one day. That drove me. He has inspired me to give back and be that voice like he was to me. If I can make it in the NFL, I know some of the kids we meet at our event can also make it like us.
"We do this event annually, so our community has something to look forward to and they know celebrities are coming back every year. We're gonna have a lot of fun at the game and I want everyone to get involved. There will be food, a DJ, an entertaining basketball game and most importantly the opportunity for the kids to meet the guys in person as well as raise money for The Boys & Girls Club of the Midlands,” Swearinger Sr said.
The Boys & Girls Club is an organization that is close to DJ’s heart. Swearinger has had a couple of family members that attended and were a part of the educational and after-school programs. “I’ve seen first-hand the great job they do for our community,” he stated.
“If we can positively affect these kids then one day they can change the world,” he said.
DJ Swearinger Sr is a strong safety for the Arizona Cardinals and played college football at the University of South Carolina. He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft (57th overall) and has also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington Redskins. He attended Greenwood High School in South Carolina, where he played alongside former South Carolina Gamecocks football college teammate Kelcy Quarles and former Washington Redskins’ teammate Josh Norman.
WHAT: DJ Swearinger Sr Celebrity Charity Basketball Game
WHEN: Saturday, April 6, 2019
TIME: Doors Open 5:30pm | Event Begins 6:00pm – 8:00pm
WHERE: Carolina Volleyball Center, 1051 Blossom Street, Columbia, SC 29208
(University of South Carolina)
TICKETS: Tickets are $15 in advance | $20 at the door
Students with a VALID Student ID $5
Children 5 & under are free
TO PURCHASE TICKETS: https://2spoonz.eventbrite.com/
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