The Super Bowl gospel celebration: Melanie Few, event founder & executive producer

The eighth annual Super Bowl Gospel Celebration, one of the most popular events during Super Bowl weekend, captivated the energetic crowd at the James L. Knight Center in Miami with a combination of emotionally moving music and inspirational messages.

The event, which brings award-winning gospel artists and key National Football League players together, included such celebrities as Patti LaBelle, Hezekiah Walker & the Love Fellowship Choir, Yolanda Adams, Jaci Velasquez and Tye Tribbett & G.A. Cedric the Entertainer was the co-host. This year's gathering, sponsored in part by Sam's Club and Ebony, also included testimonies from some of the NFL's biggest stars, including Tony Dungy, coach of the Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts.

The Super Bowl Gospel Celebration is the first and only gospel concert sanctioned by the NFL for Super Bowl weekend. It evolved from the desire of Christian NFL players who wanted all inspirational, family-friendly event during Super Bowl weekend.

Three lucky concert attendees won big in a super promotional giveaway that further highlighted the evening. Prizes included two premium tickets to Super Bowl XLI, an exquisite diamond necklace and furnishings from the John Elway furniture collection, both offered at Sam's Club, the Super Bowl Gospel Celebration's presenting sponsor.

1. HEZEKIAH WALKER & THE LOVE FELLOWSHIP CHOIR 2. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS COACH TONY DUNGY AND KIMBERLY FIELDS, MANAGER, EVENTS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, NFL. 3. SINGER/SONGWRITER J MOSS 4. PATTI LABELLE & YOLANDA ADAMS 5. HALL OF FAME QUARTERBACK JOHN ELWAY & PHILLIP MALCOM, SAM'S CLUB VICE PRESIDENT OF MEMBERSHIP 6. TYE TRIBBETT & G.A. 7. ALBERT TUCKER, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, MULTICULTURAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, GREATER FT. LAUDERDALE CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU 8. JACI VELASQUEZ 9. PHILLIP MALCOM OF SAM'S CLUB: RAQUEL GRAHAM CRAYTON, NATIONAL MARKETING DIRECTOR, EBONY; SUSAN KOEHLER, SENIOR MANAGER, CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS, SAM'S CLUB 10. RETIRED NFL STAR, DONELL BENNETT; OVIE MUGHELLI, BALTIMORE RAVENS; ELTON PATTERSON JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 11. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS COACH TONY DUNGY GREETS NFL PLAYERS.

12. RAY-LEWIS, BALTIMORE RAVENS: RAQUEL GRAHAM CRAYTON; CEDRIC THE ENTERTAINER 13. NFL LEGENDS JERRY RICE, TIM BROWN AND JEFF POSEY, WASHINGTON REDSKINS, WITH TYLER GENNEKEN (CHILDREN'S MIRACLE NETWORK AND SPECIAL GUEST OF SAM'S CLUB 14. DR. BOBBY JONES 15. GLORIA JOHNSON GOINS, CHIEF DIVERSITY OFFICER, HOME DEPOT; MELANIE FEW, FOUNDER/EXECUTIVE PRODUCER SUPER BOWL GOSPEL CELEBRATION 16. DERRICK DOCKERY. WASHINGTON REDSKINS; WALTER STITH, BUFFALO BILLS 17. MICHAEL GAINES, CAROLINA PANTHERS; TOMMIE HARRIS CHICAGO BEARS; ROLAND WILLIAMS, ST. LOUIS RAMS; MICHAEL LEHAN. MIAMI DOLPHINS 18. RYAN NECE, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS; HOLLIS THOMAS, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 19. ACTOR & PREACHER CLIFTON DAVIS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF WELCOME AMERICA IN PHILADELPHIA 20. KYLE BOWSER, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, BIBLE EXPERIENCE; PAUL J. CAMINITI, VICE PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER, ZONDERVAN.

COPYRIGHT 2007 Johnson Publishing Co.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning