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The Iowa Shrine All-Star Football Game was established by a
group of sports minded Iowa Shriners after having seen the
success of Shrine sponsored Football Games in other
states. After
much planning, the first All-Star Football and Basketball
games were played in 1973 in Iowa City.
These games were financially unsuccessful; thus the
Basketball game was dropped.
In 1974, after much dedicated work, the
indebtedness was paid off.
The contributions from this annual event now total
over $2 million dollars in support of the Shrine Hospital
programs for children.
All profits from the game are distributed to the
Hospital programs making any sponsorship a charitable
contribution. The
2003 game generated $72,000, 2004 $ 101,000, 2005 and 2006
$80,000 and the 2007 $76,000. Our goal this year is
$100,000.
There are 46 graduating High School Seniors selected for
each Squad by the coaching staffs.
The division line for the North and South basically
is Highway 30 as it crosses the State, East to West, with
the western extension from Denison to Onawa.
All schools bordering Highway 30 have players on
the South Squad, except for the Cedar Rapids schools where
the players are on the North Squad.
The exception is Cedar Rapids Prairie, which
represents the South Squad.
In 1986 the number of players was increased from 40
to 44 to permit participation of more small schools on the
All-Star squads. In the 2002 game an additional kicker was
added and in 2006 a punter was added for a total of 46.
Each fall the Iowa High School coaches are requested to
recommend a defensive and offensive player whom he feels
will be a good representative of his school and community.
He is not only a good athlete, but also one who is
also academically successful, and active in school and
community activities.
In July the Iowa High School Coaches Association
selects a Head Coach for each Squad. They in turn select five assistants so as to have one from
Class 4-A, 3-A, 2-A, and 1A/A. and 8 person.
The coaches select the players from the nominations
submitted earlier by their coaches.
Every effort is made to select players from across
the State, with a representative balance in the number of
players from each Temple jurisdiction.
Twelve years ago we added an All-Star Cheerleader program
which has been very successful. They are nominated by their schools and must attend a tryout,
which are held in February.
There are professional trainers who are judges and
assist in the selection of who will be invited to attend
camp. We try
to select 60 cheerleaders for this program.
The All-Stars will travel to the Twin Cities Children’s
Hospital from their training camp to visit the patients,
learning firsthand the purpose of the Shrine All-Star
Football game. The
player and cheerleader’s enthusiasm for the day of this
annual game is heightened, when they see how the profits
from this game are helping hundreds of Iowa’s physically
handicapped children. The 2007 operating budget is $ 721 million, that is over 1.8
million dollars per day to run our children’s hospitals.
The Iowa Shrine All-Star game is an event, which extends
the maximum visibility to the Shiner’s great
philanthropy – 18 orthopedic hospitals, 3 burn centers,
and 1, which treats all types of needs in North America.
This exposure is not only to the 92 players, 60
cheerleaders, 15 coaches, and 4 managers, but also their
families, friends, game sponsors, and others who learn of
our game through the media.
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