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'Idol' To Host 2 Fundraisers

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By WALT BELCHER

wbelcher@tampatrib.com

Published: January 20, 2009

TAMPA - "American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks is coming to Tampa for two fundraising charity events tied to Super Bowl XLIII.

The Grammy nominee will join celebrity chef Roy Yamaguchi for an "Up Close and Personal" event at Roy's Tampa restaurant on Jan. 27, featuring food, drink, music, an auction and a meet-and-greet session.

On Jan. 28, Sparks will perform in concert at Grace Family Church, 5101 Van Dyke Road, in Lutz.

Proceeds from the events go to Sparks Charities, which is based in Tampa and run by Sparks' longtime family friend and godmother, Christa Watson, who works with the Tampa Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100.

"This is the second year that Jordin has performed during the Super Bowl week and we plan to make it an annual event," says Watson, who works with the Tampa Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100.

"Jordin is especially excited to be here because the Arizona Cardinals are coming and she grew up in Arizona," Watson says.

The 19-year-old Sparks, who won the sixth season of "Idol," is performing Tuesday today at one of the inaugural parties in Washington, D.C. On Sunday, she sang the national anthem at the NFC championship title game between the Cardinals and Philadelphia Eagles.

Watson says the Jan. 27 event at Roy's, 4342 Boy Scout Road, will include an acoustic performance with Sparks singing and Yamaguchi on drums. "We expect a lot of the Cardinal players will be there," she adds.

Admission is $250 and the event gets under way at 7:30 p.m. A $400 VIP admission includes a chance to mix and mingle with Sparks and Yamaguchi. Watson says there are only 400 tickets available for this event.

Tickets for the Jan. 28 concert are $35 and $45. For information and tickets, go to www.sparkscharities.org.

Reporter Walt Belcher can be reached at (813 259-7654.

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