To celebrate NFL’s Back to Football Friday on September 7, Courtyard by Marriott—the official hotel sponsor of the NFL—kicked off the season with a tailgating event at Marriott headquarters in Bethesda.

To bring a little New Orleans Super Bowl spirit to the party, Courtyard by Marriott invited The Roots of Music, a New Orleans based music group dedicated to supporting and teaching at-risk youth through music education and mentorship, to perform live at the event.  The brass group, led by their youngest member and drum major Tudda, age five, boasts an average age of 12-14 and the students were selected based on their leadership skills, honor roll grades and musicianship.  All of the students are Katrina Survivors, apart from Tudda, who is their first post-Katrina baby.  Half of the kids had never been on an airplane before and for all of them it was their first trip to Washington, D.C.! 

Former Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann also joined the celebration, speaking with employees and signing autographs, along with Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson.  Employees also enjoyed classic tailgating fare along with food from the GoFish food truck.  To cap off the event, Courtyard by Marriott made a donation to the Roots of Music and announced they would be working with them again during Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans.

For more information on how to get in on the NFL action, visit www.facebook.com/courtyard for a chance to win season tickets and travel to all of your favorite team’s away games!