ROSE BOWL INSTITUTE NAMED PRESENTING SPONSOR OF THE TERRY DONAHUE MEMORIAL CALIFORNIA SHOWCASE

Partnership Expands Shared Commitment to Opportunity, Education, and the Lasting Legacy of Legendary Coach Terry Donahue

PASADENA, Calif. (October 12, 2026) The Rose Bowl Institute (RBi) has been named the new presenting sponsor of the Terry Donahue Memorial California Showcase, expanding a longstanding relationship between two organizations committed to create opportunity, advance education and positively impact young people through the great game of football.

The partnership will begin with the 14th Annual Terry Donahue Memorial California Showcase, scheduled for Saturday, February 20, 2027, at The Great Park in Irvine, California.

Founded in 2013 by legendary UCLA Head Coach and College Football Hall of Famer Terry Donahue in association with the National Football Foundation, the California Showcase is a free, one-day nonprofit event providing graduating high school seniors and community college student-athletes the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities in front of NCAA Division II, Division III, NAIA and community college football programs.

“Having the Rose Bowl Institute join us as our presenting sponsor is a natural and a critical partnership given Coach's lifelong connection to the Rose Bowl Stadium and our shared belief in creating opportunities for young people,” said Pat Donahue, Terry’s brother, who leads the Showcase with a number of former business associates and many of Coach’s former players and assistant coaches.

“Terry loved this event and what it represented — giving young men the opportunity to pursue their dreams and play the game they love,” Donahue continued.

Since its inception, more than 5,200 student-athletes have participated in the California Showcase, with nearly 1,500 athletes continuing their education and football careers at the collegiate level. Student-athletes have been recruited by more than 160 colleges and universities across 35 states, resulting in over $50 million in financial aid.

“The California Showcase represents so much of what the Rose Bowl Institute believes sport can and should be about — opportunity, education, character and opening doors for young people,” said Dedan Brozino, President of the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation. “Coach Donahue understood that the impact of football extends far beyond wins and losses. He used the game to teach about life and to create opportunities for young people. We are incredibly proud to help carry that legacy forward through an expanded partnership with the Showcase.”

The partnership also carries a personal connection for James Washington, President of the Rose Bowl Institute, a UCLA alumnus and two-time Super Bowl champion who has been involved with the California Showcase for years and annually works directly with participating student-athletes as a coach.

“The California Showcase is special to me because I’ve been on the field coaching these young men each year and have seen firsthand what this opportunity means to them,” said Washington. “There is tremendous talent out there, but talent needs opportunity. This Showcase gives young men a chance to be seen, continue playing the game they love and, most importantly, pursue a college education. That is sportsmanship, leadership and citizenship in action.”

Donahue, who passed away in 2021, served as UCLA’s head football coach from 1976 through 1995 and retired as the winningest coach in Bruins and Pac-12 Conference history. His relationship with the Rose Bowl spanned decades as a player, assistant coach, head coach and ambassador for college football. His connection to America’s Stadium remains permanently recognized through the Terry Donahue Pavilion at the Rose Bowl Stadium and a statue dedicated in October of 2023.

Among the many legacies Donahue left throughout college football, the California Showcase became one of his most meaningful ways to give back to the game and provide opportunities to young people who might otherwise be overlooked.

His philosophy continues to guide the Showcase today:

“Opportunity is one of the most precious gifts of life. How we respond when it is given to us, and how often we can provide it to others can define our lives.”

— Coach Terry Donahue

The Rose Bowl Institute was established through the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation to champion sportsmanship, leadership and citizenship through the power of sport. Through educational programs, community initiatives and national and global partnerships, the Institute uses the iconic platform of the Rose Bowl Stadium to positively impact young people on and off the field.

The presenting sponsorship represents a natural evolution of the long-standing relationship between the Rose Bowl Institute and California Showcase. The organizations have previously collaborated around the annual event, and the expanded partnership will further connect the Showcase’s focus on opportunity and education with the Institute’s mission of developing character and positive values through sport.

As presenting sponsor, the Rose Bowl Institute will work to further advance the event’s mission, broaden its reach and strengthen the connection between athletic opportunity, education, leadership and character development.

The 2027 Showcase will welcome over 450 student-athletes from across California and the West Coast for a series of position-specific tests and drills designed to showcase each player’s abilities. The event is organized and managed by former college and professional football players and coaches associated with Donahue throughout his career.

Following the on-field portion of the Showcase, student-athletes attend an onsite college fair to meet directly with participating college coaches to discuss potential interest, scholarships, and financial aid opportunities.

Participation in the California Showcase remains completely free for all student-athletes and participating college coaches, ensuring that access and opportunity remain at the heart of the event.

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN AT WWW.CASHOWCASE.ORG.