RETIRED NFL PLAYERS IN DIRE NEED TO BE ASSISTED FROM FUNDS RAISED IN ONLINE AUCTION
RESPONSE IS OVERWHELMING, MORE NFL LEGENDS STEPPING UP TO GIVE PERSONAL ITEMS FOR AUCTION
FANS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE PURCHASING AUCTION ITEMS AND MAKING DONATIONS TO ASSIST RETIRED NFL PLAYERS IN NEED
AUCTION & DONATION DRIVE HAS BEEN EXTENDED
GRIDIRON GREATS ONLINE AUCTION PHASE I CLOSES
AUCTION EXTENDED: PHASE II STARTS TODAY @ JerryKramer.com
MIKE DITKA, BART STARR, MERLIN OLSEN, GALE SAYERS, HARRY CARSON, JOE DELAMIELLEURE, PAUL HORNUNG, SAM HUFF & MANY OTHERS SELLING ITEMS TO HELP SOME OF THE MEN WHO HELPED BUILD THE NFL
(Green Bay, WI. For immediate release) – Jerry Kramer, Mike Ditka, and an illustrious group of NFL legends announced the completion of phase I and launch of Phase II of an online auction and donation drive to aid retired NFL players in dire need due to a lack of adequate pension and disability support, and the extension of that project. Phase II of the auction and donation drive launches Wednesday, February 14th.
NFL greats banded together to give important and meaningful personal items to raise money for the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund (GGAF). The auction and donation drive which launched during Super Bowl week has completed its first phase. The response has been overwhelming, and NFL players from around the country are contacting the organization to donate additional items. Due to the response and participation of more players, Phase II of the auction project and donation drive has launched today at JerryKramer.com
Fans from across the country have paid top dollar for some of the items in the first phase of the auction.
Mike Sportelli from Canyon Country California was the high bidder for Mike Ditka’s 1975 NFC Championship ring, purchasing it for $12,200. “Being a big fan of the game and a fan of the players that the fund is assisting, I am more than happy to help,” Said Sportelli. “Of course I was excited about the chance to bid on the ring and own such a part of football history, but also after reading about what Jerry Kramer, Coach Ditka and the others are doing, it really made me want to do something to help. It is really sad to hear some of the stories and things these guys have had to go through.”
During the first phase, many legends donated personal items or celebrity experiences. Some of the items sold during Phase I include: Hand-drawn plays by Vince Lombardi (closed at $7,101), a tennis experience with John McEnroe (closed at $11,250), and a football signed by Archie, Eli and Peyton Manning, which was donated by a player who needs assistance himself, Conrad Dobler (closed at $2,210). Phase I closed at 11:00 PM EST on Tuesday, February 13th. Phase II launches today and closes on February 20th, 2007. To date, phase I of the auction and donation drive has raised over $120,000. That is more than 900 times the amount of money that some players receive as a monthly pension. Hall Of Fame Player, Herb Adderley, for example, receives only $126.58 per month.
Fans across the country have also made cash donations, and are continuing to do so. Donations can be made at JerryKramer.com or by calling 1-800-708-1078. Some extremely generous fans have sent as much as $10,000. Darrel Wright of California called the GGAF office and donated $10,000 to the cause. "This is a charity that is very near and dear to my heart”, said Wright “When Lamar Lundy was so ill and destitute, my father visited him and helped out financially. Thanks to Jerry and the guys for stepping into the breach and getting this campaign underway. I encourage all fans to donate whatever they can afford to help.”
Phase II of this unique online auction and donation drive starts Wednesday, February 14th at JerryKramer.com and closes on February 20th, 2007. New items will also be added while Phase II of the auction is in progress. People who do not want to bid on the auction items can make a cash donation at JerryKramer.com or by calling 1-800-708-1078.
Phase II of the auction features many one-of-a-kind items and experiences, such as a game worn jersey donated by Brett Favre, a helmet donated by Bart Starr bearing his signature alongside Paul Hornung’s and Jim Taylor’s, a trip to the NFL Network to go behind the scenes and hang out with Rich Eisen, Steve Mariucci, and Deion Sanders, Jim Fink’s 1973 NFC Championship diamond money clip, a day with Howie Long on the Fox NFL, set and more!
An increasing number of NFL Greats have gone into their closets, attics, and trophy shelves to pull out game-used equipment, awards and other mementos to create a truly unique auction, some have even donated personal time to create exciting once-in-a-lifetime experiences that fans can bid on. As attention was focused on the start of this fund and the auction in the last few weeks, players from around the country are calling to donate their items, or in some cases, make cash donations. This is a very meaningful cause to many retired players because it directly affects the people they know and care about.
“We need the public’s help; the players need your help,” said Mike Ditka. “This is a tremendous cause. I am thrilled that so many players are stepping up to help and that the fans are supporting the cause by making cash donations or bidding on the items. It is important for everyone to remember who the funds that are raised are going to. It’s going to the guys who started football. Not the guys who are making the money off it, the guys who started it. Visit JerryKramer.com, bid on an auction item, or make a donation and help these guys out.”
Former Green Bay Packers Star Jerry Kramer founded the (GGAF) fund in order to assist retired players in dire need due to a lack of adequate disability and pension benefits. Pro Football Hall of Fame members Mike Ditka, Willie Davis, Gale Sayers, Harry Carson, and Joe DeLamielleure are members of the GGAF Board of Directors.
“It’s amazing how this initiative has taken off,” said Kramer. “The fact that the so many fans and so many NFL legends are working together to provide assistance to some of the retired players who helped build the league into what it is today is just wonderful.”
Jennifer Smith, Executive Director of the GGAF, said, “Over the past few weeks, the number fans and players who have come together to participate in this project has been amazing. Phase II of this project is truly a win-win, it will result in helping to raise additional dollars to assist retried players in dire need, while at the same time, fans and collectors can get a unique and rare piece of memorabilia or a once in a lifetime experience.”
JerryKramer.com will continue to serve as the portal to the auction. New York based Steiner Sports Memorabilia has graciously donated their auction services and expertise, and are facilitating the auction for the GGAF.
Kramer and these NFL greats are making a plea to fans, asking them to join them in making a direct impact on the lives of so many great players who desperately need help. Fans should logon to JerryKramer.com and learn about the cause, make a donation, or participate in the auction.
The idea to start the GGAF came after Jerry Kramer’s missing Super Bowl I ring materialized in an online auction sale in April 2006. The auction house returned the ring to Kramer once it learned the item was stolen from Kramer 25 years earlier. After returning the original, it was decided to auction Kramer’s replica ring to raise money for these players. It sold for $22,000, nearly double the amount experts predicted, becoming the initial capital used to start the GGAF. The cause itself is dear to Kramer, who has witnessed the crippling effect a lack of financial support has had on former players he knows personally.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
