The Gridiron will take place at the Four Seasons on Friday, August 26, 2022 and will feature music from Nikko Smith, food and drinks from some of the top restaurants in St. Louis, an interactive story-telling session with Isaac and other celebrities, and a live and silent auction featuring unique memorabilia, trips, and experiences. 
 
The Isaac Bruce Foundation (Tax ID: 20-8066845) focuses on health, wellness, nutrition, fitness and education. Through the foundation, Isaac reaches out to youth and teaches them at an early age the importance of a healthy lifestyle with an emphasis on education. To date, more than half of a million dollars has been donated for scholarships and grants, an applicant for the Flight 300 transportation program has never been turned away, more than 7,500 kids have attended our free football clinics, and we donate more than 300 pieces of signed merchandise to charitable organizations annually to assist them in fundraising efforts. Most recently, we donated $50,000 to St. Louis Public Schools in an effort to update the school libraries with new, relevant titles through the IBF’s literacy programs. We are thrilled to be able to continue to make an impact in the St. Louis area.
 
Money raised from the Gridiron Gala will help fund the IBF's Flight 300 Program which provides one-way transportation to college-bound students in need. When Isaac graduated high school in Florida, he had a scholarship to a junior college in California, but he needed to find a way to get there. He was provided money for a flight and is now paying it forward and making that difference for students in need.
 
The Flight 300 program covers the cost of one-way airfare, bus, or other transportation for a student with all the pieces in place to attend college but unable to afford to get there. The program also provides transportation to the airport, covers the cost to check bags, and provides transportation from the airport to campus. Because the students are generally allowed to travel with very few items, each Flight 300 Program recipient also receives a gift card to purchase essentials such as bedding.
 
Applications are available at www.isaacbruce.org/foundation.php.  The Isaac Bruce Foundation has not turned away any students for this program and it continues to grow each year since it began in 2014. The gap bridged by this program is unique and is the only known such program in the country. In 2021, IBF provided transportation for 178 students at average cost of $385/student. We anticipate providing transportation for more than 250 students in 2022.