The Iowa Shrine All-Star Football Game was established by a group of sports minded Iowa Shriners after having seen the success of Shrine sponsored Football Games in other states.  After much planning, the first All-Star Football and Basketball games were played in 1973 in Iowa City.  These games were financially unsuccessful; thus the Basketball game was dropped.  In 1974, after much dedicated work, the indebtedness was paid off.  The contributions from this annual event now total over $2 million dollars in support of the Shrine Hospital programs for children.  All profits from the game are distributed to the Hospital programs making any sponsorship a charitable contribution.  The 2003 game generated $72,000, 2004 $ 101,000, 2005 and 2006 $80,000 and the 2007 $76,000. Our goal this year is $100,000.

There are 46 graduating High School Seniors selected for each Squad by the coaching staffs.  The division line for the North and South basically is Highway 30 as it crosses the State, East to West, with the western extension from Denison to Onawa.  All schools bordering Highway 30 have players on the South Squad, except for the Cedar Rapids schools where the players are on the North Squad.  The exception is Cedar Rapids Prairie, which represents the South Squad.  In 1986 the number of players was increased from 40 to 44 to permit participation of more small schools on the All-Star squads. In the 2002 game an additional kicker was added and in 2006 a punter was added for a total of 46.

     Each fall the Iowa High School coaches are requested to recommend a defensive and offensive player whom he feels will be a good representative of his school and community.  He is not only a good athlete, but also one who is also academically successful, and active in school and community activities.  In July the Iowa High School Coaches Association selects a Head Coach for each Squad.  They in turn select five assistants so as to have one from Class 4-A, 3-A, 2-A, and 1A/A. and 8 person.   The coaches select the players from the nominations submitted earlier by their coaches.  Every effort is made to select players from across the State, with a representative balance in the number of players from each Temple jurisdiction.

     Twelve years ago we added an All-Star Cheerleader program which has been very successful.  They are nominated by their schools and must attend a tryout, which are held in February.  There are professional trainers who are judges and assist in the selection of who will be invited to attend camp.  We try to select 60 cheerleaders for this program.

     The All-Stars will travel to the Twin Cities Children’s Hospital from their training camp to visit the patients, learning firsthand the purpose of the Shrine All-Star Football game.  The player and cheerleader’s enthusiasm for the day of this annual game is heightened, when they see how the profits from this game are helping hundreds of Iowa’s physically handicapped children.  The 2007 operating budget is $ 721 million, that is over 1.8 million dollars per day to run our children’s hospitals.

     The Iowa Shrine All-Star game is an event, which extends the maximum visibility to the Shiner’s great philanthropy – 18 orthopedic hospitals, 3 burn centers, and 1, which treats all types of needs in North America.  This exposure is not only to the 92 players, 60 cheerleaders, 15 coaches, and 4 managers, but also their families, friends, game sponsors, and others who learn of our game through the media.