February 6, 2021
One of the top events of Super Bowl week was the Global Offensive Against Trafficking event held at the Tampa Zoo on Saturday, February 6, 2021. On a day forecast for rain, the event was fortunate to have bright sunshine adding to the festive atmosphere of the day.
Organized by Athletes & Causes, the event featured a steep price tag of $1,000 per person. Attendees were treated to a dazzling array of art designed to raise money for the Global Offensive Against Trafficking (GOAT). The centerpiece of the afternoon were the 55 goats that were painted by local artists and were being auctioned off for charity.
After a week of socially distanced activities, it was almost somewhat of a culture shock to see so many people walking around without masks. Not that people didn’t have masks or refused to wear them, it is just difficult to partake in the elegant food and beverage offerings while wearing a mask.
A star-studded cast of celebrities from all sports were seen roaming the event. Some of the notable names included:
- Ricky Williams
- Johnny Damon
- Earl Christie
- Jim McMahon
- Tyrone Keys
- And many others
One of the little known (and ugly) facts of Super Bowl Week is that it is one of the top sex trafficking events of the year. Billboards were all around the Tampa community addressing the issue. Fighting this type of evil is something that cannot be addressed by any single fundraising event, no matter how successful.
We know that our readers and supporters will share our outrage over these type of activity. If you want to hear more alarming facts, we encourage you to listen to Dr. Richard Lapchick’s keynote from Sports Philanthropy World 2021.
