NFL Legends Giving Up Personal Items for Auction Raising Money to Assist Retired Players in Dire Need
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| Legendary Green Bay Packer Jerry Kramer |
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Mike Ditka, Bart Starr, Merlin Olsen, Gale Sayers, Harry Carson, Joe DeLamielleure, Paul Hornung, Sam Huff and many others selling items to help some of the men who helped build the NFL. The Gridiron Greats Online Auction starts February 1st at JerryKramer.com Green Bay, WI (PRWEB) February 2, 2007 -- Jerry Kramer, Mike Ditka, and an illustrious group of NFL legends announced the start of an online auction and donation drive today to aid retired NFL players in dire need. NFL greats have banded together and are giving up important and meaningful personal items to raise money for the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund (GGAF). The fund, which was founded by former Green Bay Packers star Jerry Kramer, will provide direct or indirect financial assistance to retired players who are disadvantaged or indigent. The fund will also provide services to players who need help with medical or domestic issues. The unique online auction started February 1st at 11:00 AM EST at JerryKramer.com and ends Tuesday, February 13 at 11:00 PM EST. New items will also be added while 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. 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 superstar auction. The items were personally selected by the players; some have even customized items or donated personal time to create exciting once-in-a-lifetime experiences that fans can bid on. 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 asking that people pay a little bit more than they normally would, so we can put it in a fund to help these players in dire need. That's all we're asking. If you can get something you really want, whether it's an autograph, a picture, a ring, a helmet, pay a little extra. Remember who it's 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." The auction features many one-of-a-kind items and experiences, such as Mike Ditka's 1975 NFC Championship ring, Joe DeLamielleure's gold bracelet given to him by OJ Simpson, a hand-drawn play by Vince Lombardi, and much more. A long list of items and experiences has been compiled of the many contributions by people such as Harry Carson, Willie Davis, Archie Manning and sons Eli & Peyton, Dwight Clark, Gale Sayers, Jan Stenerud, Merlin Olsen, Deacon Jones, Sam Huff, Lem Barney, Conrad Dobler, Don Shula, Marv Levy, Larry Csonka, Garo Yepremian, Mel Renfro, the New England Patriots Alumni group, and many more. "I decided to donate the gold bracelet OJ Simpson gave to me when he broke the rushing record," said Joe DeLamielleure. "It's got my number inscribed on it, OJ's individual and the team rushing records, and the phrase 'We did it, Juice.' This bracelet is very dear to me because I never won a Super Bowl ring; it carries the same kind of significance to me. This cause is extremely important, not just to me, but to many NFL legends as well." 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. 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.
"It's amazing how this initiative developed," said Kramer. "It started out with my frustration in trying to get my Super Bowl ring back, but then it turned into this opportunity to assist some of the retired players who helped build the league into what it is today." Jennifer Smith, Executive Director of the GGAF, said, "Over the past several months, Jerry Kramer has worked diligently to put together the framework for the fund, donation drive, and the Super Bowl week auction. He has spent hours asking past and present NFL greats to go into their closets, trophy shelves and files to pull out game used equipment, awards and other mementos to donate, work to create celebrity/fan experiences, and has asked many to join him in the effort." JerryKramer.com will 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. Their years of expertise and recent launch of the Steiner Marketplace ensures that this project will be nothing short of a total success. The Steiner Marketplace is an internet marketplace that allows collectors to buy and sell their own pieces with a guarantee of authenticity from Steiner Sports. "When we first heard about this initiative to aid retired players in need, we immediately wanted to get involved and help. I am proud to donate our resources and help this extraordinary auction succeed," said Jared Weiss, President of Steiner Sports Memorabilia.
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. ###
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