SAUGUS >> The support of friends and family, a spark of excitement for the next level, and a major charitable touch — the rented party room atop Kowloon Restaurant had it all ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft’s opening night.

A near-capacity crowd attended Stellato Sports’ 10th annual Live Draft Watch Party Thursday night, coming together to celebrate six players — represented by Salem native and sports agent Sean Stellato — looking to hear their names called at some point this weekend to take their talents to the NFL.

None were projected to be drafted in the first round, but Stellato made sure to once again put on the draft party he’s taken great pride in since starting his own agency in 2013 on the draft’s opening night.

Not just to give everything he has to his clients, but also to raise money for the Arthritis Foundation, while further pushing onto his clients the underdog, never-quit persona he’s championed since his playing days at Salem High School.

“To be able to be that bridge, that dream-maker for them, it’s hard to put a word on what that means for me,” Stellato said. “I was in their shoes as a player, being an underdog. … Getting them closer to that goal, nothing lifts me up more outside of being with my kids. … (The party) is a good way to kick things off.”

Supporters of draft-hopefuls Wande Owens (safety, New Hampshire), Cam Lockridge (defensive back, Fresno State), Iverson Brown (safety, Southern Illinois), Sidiki Kone (running back, American International College), Tommy Smith (halfback, Rhode Island) and Adam Cohen (linebacker, Eastern Washington) enjoyed drinks and food after Stellato introduced his clients to the room with a brief highlights video.

Owens ranks among the most premier of the bunch, proving ahead of the draft to be one of the position’s most athletic. He’s likely to be the first one of the six drafted over the weekend, and took great enjoyment in Thursday’s festivities.

“It’s awesome (Stellato) put this on,” Owens said. “This event, for me, is kind of where it starts to feel real. … Once I got here, I was like, ‘Oh wow, it’s really here.’ These are dreams not only becoming a reality, but just everything that we’ve worked for. All the emotions come into play.”

The watch party came on the heels of other events Stellato Sports organized to fundraise money and draw excitement for the night.

Wednesday, it volunteered to serve food at a Lifebridge Northshore Homeless Shelter in Stellato’s hometown, Salem. Before the draft party, the agency also organized the 10th annual Celebrity Golf Tournament in Beverly, which featured former MLB standout Ken Griffey Sr. among the celebrities to turn out for an event Stellato made sure to honor late former Marblehead football player James Galante after his tragic passing from a car accident in 2022.

Giving back to the community and supporting bigger causes is something Stellato has aimed to use his platform for since before he even started the agency.

Much of Thursday night was dedicated to fundraising and raising awareness for the Arthritis Foundation, which hits close to home for Stellato since his daughter, Gianna, was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis. Sales for the ticketed event, along with money raised in the 29-item silent auction — most of which started bidding at $150 — went toward a donation to the foundation.

“It would be a travesty for me not to use the platform to help those in need,” Stellato said.

“It’s a testament to his character who (Stellato) is,” Owens added. “Him being from this area, giving back to the community.”