Miller Brewing Company of North America Donates $100,000 to Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund

Mike Ditka Rallies Corporate America to Help Support Gridiron Greats’ Initiatives

 

CHICAGO, IL (May 15, 2008)—The Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund has received a donation of $100,000 from the Miller Brewing Company of North America.  Dockery Clark, Senior Director, Sports and Entertainment Marketing at Miller Brewing Company presented the check to Mike Ditka, Board Member of the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund, at a press conference earlier this week.

“Millions of our consumers follow pro football passionately throughout the year, so we thought supporting Gridiron Greats was a logical way for us to give back to the game and the people who have meant so much to us, and to our consumers, over the years,” said Dockery Clark, Senior Director, Sports and Entertainment Marketing, Miller Brewing Company.

The contribution is the result of a unique partnership forged between the two organizations during last year’s Super Bowl in Phoenix, AZ. Miller made “cents-per-case” donations to the Gridiron Greats for beer sold in Arizona during Super Bowl month, sponsored four events and also donated funds from an online auction, which included unique one-of-a-kind items.

Most notable among these items was a Harley Davidson motorcycle signed by many of the Gridiron Greats.  As part of Miller’s Gridiron Greats initiative, Mike Ditka recently awarded the Harley to Cindy Elder of Raleigh, NC for her winning bid of $16,000. “I was inspired to buy the motorcycle after recently watching an HBO Special about the plight of former NFL greats who are now in dire need,” said Cindy Elder.

According to Mike Ditka, who oversees the Gridiron Greats along with Gale Sayers, Harry Carson, Willie Davis and other former NFL stars, the funds raised by the initiative with Miller goes a very long way in helping the organization continue with their humanitarian efforts to assist retired players who are in need of medical assistance, basic needs or social services.

“Miller has been an amazing supporter of our efforts,” said Ditka. “In order to continue to provide a comprehensive assistance program to some of the legends of this game, we need the support of corporate America. Miller has stepped up and we are very grateful.”