Most of the country may be enjoying the end of summer, but the 19 million Americans who play fantasy football are looking ahead to fall and daydreaming about their perfect teams. Not to worry. JCC Association is finalizing preparations for the third annual JCCs of North America Fantasy Football Challenge (The Challenge). Participants compete locally with friends, family, and coworkers, and against teams from across the continent in this enjoyable, community-building activity. They can win great prizes and support Jewish Community Centers—all at the same time.
ESPN’s Matthew Berry is the honorary commissioner once more and will be leading our online Pre-Draft Chat Night for all participating teams Tuesday, August 27 at 6:30 p.m. EST. ESPN’s expert fantasy sports analyst, he writes under the nickname “The Talented Mr. Roto.” Berry’s recent book, Fantasy Life, debuted at #5 on the New York Times nonfiction bestseller list.
“We’re excited to be back for a third season with both new and returning JCCs on board,” JCC Association Corporate Sponsorship and Marketing Manager Kelly Rainey says. “It’s not too late if you still want to join in. JCCs have until August 19 at 9am EST to opt in.”
Fantasy football is based on statistics of real National Football League players, but each fantasy football team is comprised of players from different NFL teams. Subsequently, a carefully selected fantasy team can do very well, despite wins and losses in the real NFL season.
The actual scoring of The Challenge utilizes ESPN leaderboard scoring. Anyone 18 or older who wants to play can sign up through JCC Association’s registration website discoverjcc.com/JCCFF for $50 to be paired with nine other teams to create a league.
“Our partnership with The Coca-Cola Company and other preferred vendors is integral to making The Challenge successful and is one of the reasons so many teams sign up,” says Rainey. Sponsors for The Challenge this year include The Coca-Cola Company, Disney Resorts, Southwest Airlines, The Peabody Hotel Orlando, and Staples.
They have generously donated terrific prizes:
GRAND PRIZE: (for the team with the highest overall point total at the end of the fantasy playoffs): (4) 4-day Park Hopper passes to Walt Disney World, Orlando, FL; (4) round-trip tickets on Southwest Airlines; 4-night stay for (4) in The Peabody Hotel, Orlando, FL; personal phone call from Matthew Berry
SECOND PLACE: (for the team with the second highest overall point total at the end of the fantasy playoffs): (2) round-trip tickets on Southwest Airlines
THIRD PLACE: (for the team with the third highest overall point total at the end of the fantasy playoffs): (2) round-trip tickets on Southwest Airlines
END OF YEAR “LOTTERY PRIZE”: (winner picked at random after the end of the fantasy regular season): (2) round-trip tickets on Southwest Airlines
WEEKLY PRIZE: (2) tickets to any Six Flags location in the US
LEAGUE PRIZES: (for the team in each league with the best win-loss record) winner has their choice of the following prizes from Staples: Brookstone BBQ Kit, device charging station, football bean bag throw game (cornhole or baggo), FitBit, OR (3) $25 gift cards from one of two dozen retailers including Nike, Lord & Taylor, Dave & Buster’s or The Home Depot.
Participating JCCs:
Aaron JCC of Dallas
Barshop JCC
Betty & Milton Katz JCC
Boulder JCC
Boulder JCC
Charles Schusterman JCC
Dave & Mary Alpert JCC
Gordon Jewish Community Center
JCC of Austin
JCC of Central New Jersey
JCC of Greater Ann Arbor
JCC of Greater Buffalo – Buffalo
JCC of Greater Buffalo – Getzville
JCC of Greater Kansas City
JCC of Greater Pittsburgh
JCC of Greater Washington
JCC of Northern Virginia
Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg
Kaplen JCC on the Palisades
Leventhal-Sidman JCC
Levin JCC
Levite JCC of Birmingham
Mandel JCC – Florida
Mandell JCC
Marcus JCC of Atlanta
Memphis JCC
New Orleans JCC
Oshman Family JCC
Robert E. Loup JCC
Rosenthal JCC
Scranton JCC
Shaw JCC Akron
Shimon and Sara Birnbaum JCC
Siegel JCC
Springfield JCC
St. Louis JCC
Stamford JCC
Valley of the Sun JCC
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