New Orleans has been gearing up for months in preparation for Super Bowl XLVII, which the Southern city will be hosting for the tenth time this year. The 2013 game will tie New Orleans with Miami for the most Super Bowls held in their respective cities. And while New Orleans’ team, The Saints, aren’t in the running this year, it doesn’t seem to have put too much of a damper on the city’s football spirit. In addition to the much anticipated game, New Orleans will also be hosting a bevy of community outreach events, ranging from environmental initiatives to youth programs. In all, there are more than 30 events that will take place leading up to Super Bowl XLVII. Take a look at handful of things the NFL is doing to get ready for the big day and to help the New Orleans community in the process.

Super Bowl Breakfast

On February 1 at 8 am the Hyatt Regency will host a breakfast that will also include the presentation of the Bart Starr Award, an honor given to an NFL player that exemplifies “outstanding character and leadership in the home, on the field, and in the community.” Bart Starr, who formerly was the quarterback for the Green Bay Packers was also the team’s Head Coach between 1975 and 1983. The Pro Football Hall of Famer will present the award to this year’s recipient Jason Witten of the Dallas Cowboys, who was chosen based on a vote cast among his peers. Speakers at the breakfast will include Super Bowl champion Brent Jones, Olympic commentator Lewis Johnson, as well as several other well-respected NFL coaches and players. Tickets range from $120 to $1,800 for priority tables.

Photo Courtesy of The Super Bowl Breakfast

NFL Play 60 Challenge School Visit

New Orleans native and former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kordell Stewart will be paying a visit to the Fifth Ward Junior High School to help lead the NFL Play 60 campaign towards health and fitness for youth across America. Sky-rocketing percentages of overweight kids has becoming a shocking reality in an age of fast food and sedentary past times, producing both a culture and generation of children that are increasingly resistant to physical activity. More than 150 fourth through sixth graders will get the opportunity to join Kordell Stewart during a special fitness activity on January 29th. In addition, the school will receive a $2,500 NFL PLAY 60 grant to use towards the purchase of fitness equipment as well as an Xbox 360 with Kinect capability, allowing the kids to use modern technology an alternative way, ensuring they strive to get 60 minutes of fitness in a day.

Photo Courtesy of The NFL

The NFL Experience Driven By GMC

Football history buffs will be thrilled to hear that the NFL Experience by GMC will be returning to New Orleans for the first time in ten years. For the event, the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center will hold the nation’s largest football memorabilia, containing rare collectibles of all kinds. The interactive park will allow fans to become their own NFL star, passing, punting and kicking it like their favorite players while participating in games such as the “Quarterback Challenge,” “Run to Daylight” and “Extra Point Kick.” The event is family friendly as well, with a scaled-down Rush Zone for children aged 3 to 10 years old and an NFL Play 60 Youth clinic for kids aged 6 to 12. During the clinic kids will learn team-building and other valuable lessons from a range of NFL players. Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for children 12 and under.

Super Bowl XLVII One World Super Huddle

In an effort to stop bullying and hatred, the Super Bowl XLVII One World Super Huddle is attempting to attack such complex concepts as racism and cultural misunderstanding at the ground level with New Orleans area fifth graders. The program will take place on January 28th as a part of the NFL’s diversity initiative “One World: Connecting Communities, Cultures, and Classrooms.” 8 classes of children with varying religious, cultural, and racial backgrounds will get to meet their pen pals, with whom they’ve been communicating, for the first time. At the New Orleans Audubon Zoo, the kids will learn about the cultural significance of the Louisiana Wetlands, about the difference among animals around the world, as well as given an opportunity to participate in a Brazilian Samba class. The students will have a chance to interact with NFL players and get to know their pen pals in person.

Photo Courtesy of The New Orleans Audubon Zoo

Make-A-Wish®

Since 1982 kids have made wishes to meet rock stars, have lunch with favorite actresses, and of course, attend the Super Bowl. This year marks the 30th anniversary of wish-granting at the Super Bowl. For the 2013 Super Bowl, twelve kids and their families will be invited to attend the Welcome Reception on January 31st for the NFL players. On February 1, a tour of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome will be scheduled and on the much anticipated day, Sunday February 3, kids and family members will have some of the best seats in the house for Super Bowl XLVII. This incredible foundation based out of Phoenix has granted more than 226,000 wishes to children fighting life-threatening illness since its inception in 1980.

Photo Courtesy of Make-A-Wish

Super Bowl XLVII Environmental Program

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to flock to New Orleans to take part in the Super Bowl festivities. In order to minimize the pollution aspect of this influx, the NFL Environmental Program has developed a few initiatives to help protect both the local and global environment. From solid waste management and recycling to sports equipment and book donation, the NFL Environmental Program is a comprehensive force dedicated to bettering the New Orleans community. In addition, “green” power usage will be used at many of the event venues including the Mercedes- Benz Superdome and official media center. Part of this year’s program also includes the planting of several thousand trees in the neighboring community areas in partnership with local conservation groups.

Photo Courtesy of Green Light New Orleans