On any given weekend you will find business owners and philanthropists Larry Huggins, and brothers Everett & Tim Rand, tending to their various business entities and, like many entrepreneurs, working seven days a week. But once a year on a Saturday in September, you will find this team playing host to one of the largest HBCU football competitions this side of the Mason Dixon Line, the Chicago Football Classic (CFC), which is more than just gridiron action between two college teams.

It all began back in 1997 when these three businessmen, along with other local business owners and politicians at the time, came together and formed the Chicago Football Classic, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to encouraging African American youth to achieve their personal best in school and beyond through the annual college football game.

Now on the 20th anniversary of the Chicago Football Classic, two of the best in Black college football, Grambling State University Tigers will take on the Clark Atlanta University Panthers in Chicago on Saturday, September 30th at Soldier Field. This year will prove to be a rivalry like no other and would not be possible without the support of Presenting Sponsors….Sherman Dodge Chrysler Jeep of Skokie, BMO Harris Bank, NBC5, Comcast and Telemundo.

The CFC mission has been to inspire African American high school and college students through their support of programs, initiatives and events that will increase the awareness of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and the opportunities they provide African American students in their efforts to achieve educational excellence.

Research shows that African American college students will generally fare better and graduate at higher rates when they attend HBCUs, as opposed to the mainstream colleges and universities. The CFC initiative empowers students to not only complete their high school education, but to attend HBCUs with the aid and assistance of their annual scholarship program.