Arizona Cardinals’ Mack Wilson Sr. to host fourth annual celebrity game for charity
PHOENIX – When Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. began hosting his celebrity sporting events in 2022, the goal was simple – give back to the local community while supporting a greater cause.
Back then, the Montgomery, Alabama, native was heading into his fourth NFL season with the New England Patriots, and he started with a celebrity softball game after former Cleveland Browns teammate Jarvis Landry had given him the idea.
Now, Wilson is approaching his seventh season in the league, and he’s bringing his fourth annual celebrity game and community day to the Valley after signing with the Cardinals a little over a year ago. The event, powered by Clear Vision, will take place on May 10 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Corona del Sol High School in Tempe.
Wilson has partnered with two charities that will benefit from the big day: Fostering Champions, an organization that empowers and supports foster youth, and the Make a Difference Foundation, an organization from Wilson’s hometown which provides educational opportunities, resources and support to underserved youth.
Wilson has made it a point to include the Make a Difference Foundation in every one of his celebrity games thus far. The charity holds a special place in his heart because he witnessed its impact firsthand as it helped him turn his own life around. Now he wants to give that same opportunity to others.
“For Mack, it was special to be able to bring this event to the Valley and to be able to engage with the Arizona fans,” said Paige Elliot, Wilson’s publicist who is helping to organize the event. “He really wants to be able to give back to this city and bring them a special experience that they won’t forget.”
Being a professional athlete comes with perks, one of them being connections. Wilson’s connections over the years have helped him piece together exciting lineups for his annual celebrity games. This year’s roster includes plenty of names that football fans should recognize, including NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Owens, James Conner, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Trey McBride from the Arizona Cardinals.
The day will start off with a free community event that will include games, food, face painting, a bounce house and more from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Afterward, the celebrity basketball game will run from about 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., and tickets will cost $10 per person. The game will also feature local high school teams and various contests like a 3-point challenge and a relay.
“It’s going to be a whole lot of music, vibes and just seeing athletes outside of their day-to-day,” Elliot said. “It’s a pretty unique experience that you’re going to have a hard time finding anywhere else.”
Elliot has hosted other celebrity sporting events in the past, but this will be her first time working with Wilson on something like this. She’s confident that fans will get the most out of their money, especially since the entire community portion before the game is free.
“It’s just something that you’re not used to seeing before,” Elliot said. “Being able to see athletes off the field and being able to interact with them. They’ll be signing autographs and engaging with fans, and we’ll have giveaways. It’ll be a memorable experience for sure.”
Focusing on the entertainment aspect makes it easy to forget about the bigger picture, but Wilson remembers why he started it all in the first place. Elliot sees his vision, and she wants to help him carry it out as best she can.
“It’s really about the fan experience, especially for Arizona fans, and bringing everyone together,” Elliot said. “And then of course, it’s also about the two charities that will be benefiting from all of it. Any proceeds from this event will be going towards sports program fees for foster kids. It’s a great cause that he’s (Wilson’s) very passionate about.”