RivALZ is a powderpuff football game played in cities across the United States.Blondes vs. Brunettes Powderpuff Fundraiser Proceeds from the event are donated to The Alzheimer's Association. Games have been held in more than 40 cities and have cumulatively raised more than $18 Million for the care, support and research efforts of the Association.

History Blondes vs brunettes The annual contests were started by Sara Allen Abbott whose father, Texas State Representative Joseph Hugh Allen, died of Alzheimer's disease in 2008. Looking for a way to raise funds for the Alzheimer's Association, Abbott organized a powder puff football game in tribute to her father, a lifelong football fan. Abbott, who was working and residing in Washington, D.C. at the time, wanted a more hands-on fundraiser in comparison to the many charitable organizations which were raising money predominantly through formal black-tie events. Alongside her sister, she thought a powder puff football game that leveraged pop culture's blonde vs. brunette rivalry would be more appealing to a younger set of donors with a $20 ticket price to provide a low-cost way for attendees to support a good cause.Staff writer (September 15, 2010) "Blondes vs. Brunettes: Grassroots Effort Scores for Alzheimer's Association” The Non-Profit Times Retrieved March 16, 2012

In Fall 2005, the first blonde vs. brunette powder puff football game was played at Hains Point in Washington, D.C. and raised $10,000. Subsequently, the game searched for a more suitable home and moved around the Washington D.C area before settling in at George Washington University’s Mount Vernon Athletic Field in 2009. Since its inception, the game has received considerable publicity to include feature articles in The Washington Post and has raised over $500,000 in the Washington, D.C. alone.Argetsinger, Amy (November 13, 2013) “Athletes First, Stylistas Second” The Washington Post Retrieved November 15, 2011

By 2012, Blondes vs. Brunettes Powderpuff Football was being played in cities across the United States and each city has a slightly different approach to the game. “In Washington, the rivalry is intense. If friends are on opposite teams, they usually don't talk the weekend of the games," Abbott shared. Cities that host the game include: Albany, Amarillo,Amarillo Globe News "Alzheimer's Association's Blondes vs. Brunettes" Retrieved October 6, 2012 Akron, Atlanta, Austin, Bakersfield, CA, Baton Rouge, Boston, Buffalo,"Western New York Powderpuff Fundraiser" Charlotte, Burlington, IA, Chicago,“Blondes vs. Brunettes - Chicago” Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbia, SC, Columbus,”Blondes vs. Brunettes – Columbus”Denver,Staff writer (June 7, 2012) "Brunettes Trounce Blondes in Benefit for Alzheimer's Association of Colorado" The Denver Post. Retrieved October 6, 2012 Evansville,”Blondes vs. Brunettes – Evansville” Houston,"Welcome to 2012 Blondes vs. Brunettes - Houston, Texas"Staff writer (May 19, 2012) “Brunettes Defeat Blondes in Football Game Benefiting Alzheimer's Association” ABC 13 Houston Retrieved May 30, 2012 Hudson Valley (New Rochelle, NY), Indianapolis, Jackson, “Welcome to 2012 Blondes vs. Brunettes, Jackson, MS” Kansas City,"Blondes vs. Brunettes – Kansas City" Lexington,”Blondes vs. Brunettes, Lexington, KY” Los Angeles“Blondes vs. Brunettes – Los Angeles” Louisville,Staff writer (June 13, 2012) “Blondes vs. Brunettes for a Good Cause” WDRB Louisville. Retrieved October 6, 2012 Lubbock, TX, Madison, WI, Minneapolis,Hopfensperger, Jean (October 14, 2013) "Philanthropy beat: Blondes vs. Brunettes flag football tackles Alzheimer's" Star-Tribune Retrieved November 16, 2013 New York,“Blondes vs. Brunettes - New York” Staff writer (March 3, 2012) "Alzheimer's Association Fundraiser" NBC New York. Retrieved October 6, 2012 North Alabama (Decatur, AL), Phoenix, Plainview, TX, Raleigh, North Carolina,“Blondes vs. Brunettes – Raleigh” San Diego,”Blondes vs. Brunettes – San Diego” Retrieved October 7, 2012 Santa Barbara, CA, San Francisco.“Blondes vs. Brunettes – San Francisco” Tallahassee, FL, Washington, D.C. and Wichita, KS

Abbott received national publicity and multiple awards for her efforts in raising funds for the Alzheimer's Association.MSNBC, The Daily Rundown with Nora O'Donnell: "Making a Difference With Powder Puff Philanthropy" aired December 30, 2010 The Alcalde, University of Texas Alumni Magazine: "Class Notes" (Sara M. Allen Abott) December, 2010, page 90. Retrieved September 30, 2012. Initial plans were to expand the event to more cities and eventually establish a "Blondes vs. Brunettes Super Bowl".

Publicizing the event, local media outlets have used alliterative, attention grabbing headlines and topic leads such as, "Blondes battle brunettes to fight Alzheimer’s", "Blondes and brunettes battle it out to fund Alzheimer's research", "Blondes Battle Brunettes at the Cotton Bowl", and "Blond women will battle brunettes to help tackle Alzheimer's disease at Cotton Bowl Stadium Saturday evening.".

The game's increasing popularity in the Dallas-Fort Worth area resulted in the 2012 game moving to the Cotton Bowl to accommodate the larger crowds.Pressly, Ty (August 3, 2012) "Blondes vs. Brunettes for Charity - Cotton Bowl to host Blondes vs. Brunettes football game on Aug. 11" NBC Dallas-Fort Worth Channel 5. Retrieved October 6, 2012

2014 rebranding to RivALZ Despite growing to nearly 50 cities, in 2014 ALS decided to drop the "blondes vs brunettes" theme that was created in 2005 and instead, re-brand the effort as "RivALZ", allowing participants to organize opposing teams around other rivalries such as east vs. west or city vs. suburb.

Rules on hair color Game rules do not require that hair color be natural, and it is common for many of the girls on the blonde team to have dyed hair.

An NBC Washington story cited participants changing their hair color in the weeks before the game and switching sides.Michael, Kate (July 6, 2011) ”Do or Dye: Blondes vs. Brunettes Gear Up for Football Fundraiser” NBC 4 Washington.com Other media stories have highlighted intense workouts, team meetings that feature inspirational films such as Remember the Titans, and participants practicing their trash-talking to include trying to think up ways to intimidate their opponents.The Wall Street Journal On-Line ”Splitting Hairs for Charity”

See also Blonde versus brunette rivalry

References