When Jason Raznick was nine years old, he met Isaiah Thomas.
“I’ll never forget it,” he says.
“When I was a kid, I went to basketball camp. When you're nine years old and you meet a professional athlete, you don't ever forget that experience.”
Raznick grew up to earn a BBA from University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business before founding and selling Benzinga, a financial content ecosystem that made information easier to consume.
These days, his own kids sit courtside at Lions’ games — notably even landing in their lap.
At a Sept. 14, 2025, home game against the Chicago Bears — after three seasons of the Raznick family creating the Lions Leap Zone, crossing their fingers and dreaming — wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown pointed straight at Raznick’s then-nine-year-old daughter Aria and her then-14-year-old brother Josh before leaping into the stands and landing in the family’s lap. Quarterback Jared Goff then scrambled to get in on the fun, getting a boost from St. Brown.
The moment went viral.
“When [St. Brown] scored the touchdown, he pointed at us and I’m like ‘Oh my God. Is this really happening?’ Aria said after the game. “Then he jumps up and we all start going crazy. Then we just see Jared trying to come up, he's pulling trying to come up.”
But Raznick is acutely aware that his own kids’ experience is not typical — neither are the old days of meeting your idol at basketball camp.
“Moments like that have become harder to come by,” he says. “Games are expensive, security is tighter and athletes are less accessible than they once were.”
Gone are the days of going to a game, hanging around the locker room and getting an athlete’s autograph. “And the kids who need that inspiration the most are the ones it now reaches last,” he says.
Even if you score tickets to a local festival, additional fees might prevent one-on-one time with your favorite athlete, agent or coach.
On a whim, he decided to give away a pair of courtside Pistons tickets to a father and his own nine-year-old son. “At the time, I thought nothing of it,” he says.
But the video Raznick received in return inspired a mission.
“This boy, who had only ever seen these athletes on a screen, was standing just a few feet away from them,” Raznick says. “His father said it was the greatest day of their lives. So I thought, how can I create more of those moments for other people? How can I have one thousand kids leave with one thousand smiles?”
So he and his kids — Josh, Aria and Riley — created RazMania, an event built to give kids the same kind of unforgettable moment.
“I put my name on it, I used favors and got everyone I could to participate in it,” Raznick says. “The athletes want to meet these kids and interact. It wasn’t that hard to get them.”
But he had a bigger vision.
Pontiac United, Boys and Girls Club of Troy — we wanted to bring kids who haven’t had access to sporting events. This was the core of the event.
The idea began with a simple mission: connect underprivileged kids with professional athletes. Raznick’s own children love sports cards, and he noticed that meeting athletes at other card shows often came with a steep price tag. So he built something different, a Michigan event where families could put down their phones, buy, sell and trade cards, and be inspired by the athletes themselves.
When the first annual RazMania sports festival rolled into the UWM Sports Complex in Pontiac, held over three days in August, it offered far more than cards. Admission included panels and talks in which athletes and industry insiders shared their stories. Detroit Lions long snapper Hogan Hatten explained how his grades made a college scholarship possible. Kicker Jake Bates, who never kicked a field goal in college, signed hundreds of autographs. Sports agent Brandon Greer, who had closed a $96 million deal the week before, took the stage with Pistons assistant general manager George David, showing kids that there are many ways to build a life in sports. Beyond the autographs, Raznick wanted kids to hear real stories of perseverance in person.
Interactive stations kept the energy high, including a golf simulator, baseball hitting and pitching stations, basketball, a silent auction and a celebrity basketball game featuring former Piston Jonas Jerebko. It was an ambitious debut.
The heart of the weekend was the kids. An estimated 250 to 300 children from charities including Pontiac United, Brilliant Detroit and Boys & Girls Club of Troy attended free, along with VIP passes. Several played in the celebrity game, and they asked athletes questions during a Q&A session.
Local companies including Buddy's Pizza, Wallside Windows and Tapper's Jewelry helped support the event, along with card vendors and ticket sales.
In the process of planning RazMania, Raznick and his wife, Stacey, were inspired to found Dream Forward, a nonprofit dedicated to creating Detroit experiences for kids, from access to sporting events to other opportunities they might not otherwise have. RazMania is one piece of that larger mission: putting kids in the room with people who can show them what’s possible.
“I don’t just want kids to dream about becoming professional athletes. I want them to discover careers they may have never considered — from agents and scouts to broadcasters, entrepreneurs, marketers and executives,” Raznick says. “I wanted them to be super-inspired — not just for the school year, but for the rest of their lives, to keep moving forward. That’s what it’s about.”
POST-GAME TAKEAWAYS: THE LIONS ON GIVING BACK
JARED GOFF
Detroit Lions Quarterback
“It’s really cool to come here and give back. I’ve known Jason for a few years now, and to be able to help him out here, and get to say hi to all these kids is awesome.”
DERRICK BARNES
Detroit Lions Linebacker
“It means a lot when people like Jason pour back into the community, especially into the kids. Rare opportunities like getting to meet NFL and collegiate players, well-rounded business owners and other successful adults can have a lasting impact on young people — even if they don't realize it in the moment. When I was younger, I had the opportunity to meet [16-year NFL veteran tackle] Andrew Whitworth, and I still remember how much that experience meant to me. From that day forward, I dreamed of being where I’m at today. There’s power in exposure, which is exactly what this event provided.”
BROCK WRIGHT
Detroit Lions Tight End
“It was an absolute pleasure attending and being a part of RazMania. I had the opportunity to speak in front of and interact with many kids from the Detroit area. I saw in their faces the same passion and excitement for sports that I had at their age. It reminded me of the significant role that sport has in the development of our youth.”
HOGAN HATTEN
Detroit Lions Long Snapper
“I wish I’d had something like it when I was a kid — a chance to learn from the athletes I looked up to. I think it was great that we were able to interact with the kids.”
JACK FOX
Detroit Lions Punter
“It meant a lot to spend time with the community and pass along some of what helped me when I was a kid.”