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Miller Lite Teams Up with Gridiron Greats |
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Monday, 12 May 2008 |
Gridiron Greats, an organization that provides financial assistance and social services to retired National Football League players in dire need, teamed up with Miller Lite in February to raise money for the organization.
Miller Lite was able to sponsor a variety of events throughout the month of January that helped contribute to the Gridiron Greats assistance fund. The company donated 25 cents for every Miller Lite Super Party 30-pack sold in Arizona, the site of the Super Bowl, from Jan. 1 to Feb. 3, and 5 cents for every Miller Lite Super Party bottle sold in the state during that time.
The brewing company also was able to organize a number of auctions on eBay, including a Harley-Davidson motorcycle signed by a group of former NFL stars, an African safari experience with NFL legends and various helmets, jerseys and footballs signed by Hall of Fame players.
The event culminated with a VIP party at the Westgate City Center in Glendale, Ariz., on Feb. 3, the day of the Super Bowl.
Throughout the week leading up to the game, Miller Lite hosted meet and greets featuring former players at locations around the Phoenix area, raising money and awareness for the Gridiron Greats cause.
Through its promotions, Miller was able to raise $100,000 for the cause, while Gridiron Greats raised $500,000. In doing so, the two were able to exceed their fundraising goal.
"Organizations are made up of people, many of whom grew up, and fell in love with the game of football thanks in large part to many of these men. We watched these guys with our fathers and brothers growing up," says Jarrett Babincsak, a marketing manager at Miller, in an e-mail. "So, in essence, this was our chance, as an organization and as individuals involved in bringing this initiative to life, to give back to a game that in many ways has given a great deal to us."
Earlier this month, through an association with the Hall of Fame Players LLC, Miller Lite hosted a Super Party celebrity golf outing with a guest list that included Lawrence Taylor, Barry Sanders, Dick Butkus, Ted Hendricks, Kellen Winslow, Dan Hampton, Fred Belitnikoff, Anthony Munoz, Michael Irvin, Jim McMahon, Jan Stenerud, Eric Dickerson, Marshall Faulk, Franco Harris, Deacon Jones and Earl Campbell. The outing culminated in a silent auction that raised $12,000. |
