Party In The MIA: South Florida Super Bowl Festivities Continue

South Beach is heating up as celebrities and athletes alike make the rounds to parties ahead of Sunday's Super Bowl XLIV. THE DAILY offers you the inside scoop for upcoming events and previews the slate of celebrity bashes on tap this weekend.

Event At Grass In Miami Will  Raise Funds For Haiti

PARTY FOR A CAUSE: In Miami, Audra Burch notes organizers of parties around Sunday's Super Bowl are "hoping to harness and leverage the power of fame to raise funds for the relief and recovery efforts" in Haiti. The Giving Back Fund Founder Marc Pollick said Super Bowl parties are the "perfect combustible combination." He said, "The celebrities can bring attention to a very important cause and the media will cover it. In terms of raising funds, you couldn't have picked a more perfect place for a Super Bowl." NFL players and celebs are "hosting a string of events that will benefit Haiti, including a ball at Jungle Island, a fashion show at Grass Restaurant and Lounge, and an evening of sports and art at the Haitian Heritage Museum." BET Friday will present SOS -- Saving Ourselves -- a benefit concert and telethon at AmericanAirlines Arena that will air live on BET, MTV, VH1, CENTRIC and BET Int'l. BET President of Programming Music & Specials Stephen Hill: "We knew there was going to be a lot of talent already in Miami for the Super Bowl, so it made sense to do it there." The event will be hosted by Queen Latifah, Diddy and Pharrell, with performances by Justin Bieber, Ludacris, Mary J. Blige, Chris Brown, Wyclef Jean and Akon (MIAMI HERALD, 2/4).

PUMP UP THE JAM: The four-day "Eats Beats Cleats Gridiron Festival" kicks off today in South Beach and Pro Football HOFers Barry Sanders, Michael Irvin, Gale Sayers, Roger Staubach and Dick Butkus are expected to attend. Tonight, Pro Football HOFer Joe Montana, Fox Sports analyst Troy Aikman, Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald and ESPN's Kenny Mayne and Steve Young will attend the "Jerry Rice Celebrity Gala." Meanwhile, NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson and singer Nick Lachey will host their "Super Skins Kick-Off Party" from 9:00pm-2:00am at Hotel 944 at the Eden Roc in Miami Beach. Rapper Snoop Dogg will perform  (HERALD.com, 1/27)....Singers Rihanna, Timbaland and Justin Bieber will perform tonight at the Pepsi Super Bowl Fan Jam (NFL)....ESPN's Ron Jaworski tonight will host his Celebrity South Beach Cigar Party at the Victor Hotel from 7:00-10:00pm. ESPN's Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden, Suzy Kolber, Mike Ditka, Merril Hoge and Desmond Howard are scheduled to attend. The event will benefit the United Way Jaws Youth Fund and United Way of Miami-Dade County (THE DAILY).