Most of the country may be mired in record-breaking heat, 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 second 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. Forty-three JCCs are participating so far, but there is still time for JCCs and JCC camps to opt in.
ESPN’s Matthew Berry is the honorary chair for the second time and will host a live Pre-Draft Night Chat August 28 at 8 p.m., where he will answer questions e-mailed earlier or messaged during the discussion. Berry is the sports network’s expert fantasy sports analyst; he writes under the nickname “The Talented Mr. Roto.”
“We’re excited to be back for a second season with both new and returning JCCs on board,” JCC Association Marketing Coordinator Kelly Rainey says. “It’s not too late if you still want to join in. JCCs have until August 17 to opt in.”
For those unfamiliar with fantasy football, the concept is based on the 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 season. Last year’s winner Tom Arnoldt tweeted, “Thanks @JCCsFanSports I just booked the #DisneyWorld vacation I won in the 1st annual #JCCFFC.”
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.
Director of Corporate Sponsorship David Sobel is happy to welcome back such great sponsors for a second season. “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.” Sponsors for The Challenge this year include The Coca-Cola Company, Disney Resorts, Southwest Airlines, The Peabody Hotel Orlando, AbCoaster, 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: Choose from an AbCoaster or among prizes provided by Staples.
Participating JCCs:
Addison-Penzak JCC
Barshop JCC
Betty & Milton Katz JCC
Boulder JCC
Charles Schusterman JCC
Charleston JCC
Dave & Mary Alper JCC
Gordon Jewish Community Center
Greenwich JCC
JCC MetroWest
JCC of Allentown
JCC of Austin
JCC of Central New Jersey
JCC of Greater Buffalo
JCC of Greater Kansas City
JCC of Greater Washington
JCC of Omaha
JCC on the Hudson
JCC Suncoast
Kaplen JCC on the Palisades
Leventhal-Sidman JCC
Levin JCC
Levite Birmingham JCC
Mandell JCC
Marcus JCC of Atlanta
Memphis JCC
Michael-Ann Russell JCC
New Orleans JCC
Oshman Family JCC
Peninsula JCC
Prosserman JCC
Riverdale YM-YWHA
Robert & Dorothy Ludwig Schenectady JCC / Golub Family Campus
Robert E. Loup JCC
Rosenthal JCC
Scranton JCC
Shimon & Sara Birnbaum JCC
Siegel JCC
Springfield JCC
St. Louis JCC
Stamford JCC
The Evelyn Rubenstein JCC
The Suffolk Y JCC