The Illinois Coaches Association and the Shriners of Illinois will host the 49th annual Illinois High School Shrine Game on June 17th at Tucci Stadium on the campus of Illinois Wesleyan University. Kick-off for the 49th annual game is scheduled for Saturday, June 17th at 11:00a.m. The pregame festivities will begin at the stadium starting at 10am. Ninety-two of the state’s best football players participate in this all-star game to raise money for Shriners Hospital for Children, the official philanthropy of Shriners International. More information about scheduled events, along with rosters for both the Red and Blue teams, can be found at IL HS Shrine Game. Admission for this All Star Game is $10 and can be purchased at the gate.
Each year at the Shrine Game, two patients from the Shiners Hospital for Children are chosen to be the prince and princess. The princess is Ella Strange from Lexington who is a patient at the Shriners Hospital in Chicago. The prince is Judah Tanis from Peoria who is a patient at the Shriners Hospital in St. Louis. The prince and princess are honorary representatives from each hospital that will benefit from the money raised through the game. Last year’s event raised nearly $22,000 that went directly to providing outstanding medical care for children at the Shriners Hospitals for Children.
Our goal is to create a fun and exciting environment for the players, families, Shrine kids, and Shriners and to make this a signature event for the Shriners of Illinois. The featured banquet speaker will be John Ridgeway from Bloomington. John participated in this event in 2017 and currently plays for the Washington Commanders.
About Shriners Hospitals for Children®
Shriners Hospitals for Children® is a health care system of 22 hospitals dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing pediatric specialty care, innovative research, and outstanding teaching programs for medical professionals. Children up to age 18 with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate are eligible for care and receive all services in a family-centered environment, regardless of the patients’ ability to pay. Visit the Shriners Hospitals website at www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org.
The estimated direct economic impact of hosting the Illinois High School Shrine Game in Bloomington-Normal is $84,310.
For more information, please contact Eric Tjarks with the Illinois High School Shrine Game (217-781-2400) or Matt Hawkins at the Bloomington-Normal Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (309-665-0033).