When most people think about the Super Bowl, they think of football first, with commercials a close second. But the big event is also an opportunity to create winners who aren’t the Patriots or the Rams. Here are some examples of ways nonprofits and socially responsible companies can benefit from the big game.
Ticket Raffles
With an event this high profile, the idea of having even a remote chance of winning tickets is irresistible to some fans. The New England Patriots have launched what they are calling the Super Bowl Charity Raffle with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the Patriots Foundation, which donates money to two charitable and philanthropic agencies around New England. The winner and a guest will get two Super Bowl tickets, tickets to a pre-game tailgate party, passes to the team’s post game party, and other perks. Tickets must be bought on the Patriots website by noon on Wednesday January 30 and the winner will be announced that day. They cost $10 each, three for $25, 15 for $100 or 100 for $500.
Appearances
Rapper Travis Scott agreed to appear as a special guest with halftime headliner Maroon 5, but only after the he and the NFL agreed to a partnership to donate $500,000 to Dream Corps, an organization that has many initiatives including #cut50 aimed at reducing prison recidivism, the tech training program #yeswecode aimed at under-served populations, and #greenforall, which searches for solutions to environmental problems. Scott’s deal is good for him as well, as it served to quiet some critics who think he should not have supported Colin Kaepernick when he took a knee during the national anthem.
Events
People who attend the Super Bowl often spend the entire weekend in the host city, which makes it the perfect time to organize a charity event. The day before the Super Bowl, Taste of the NFL, a food and wine event is being held in the host city of Atlanta that features a chef from each NFL city serving a dish with a current or former NFL player from that city. The Patriots representatives are Chef Steve DiFillippo from Davio’s and former Patriots player Christian Fauria. The event raises money and awareness for hunger relief organizations in each NFL city. The Pats’ local food organization is the Greater Boston Food Bank.
Advertisements
Given the incredibly high number of people who see Super Bowl commercials, it can be an amazing opportunity to share a message of giving. During this year’s game, Kia is using its traditional Super Bowl ad spot to launch “The Great Unknowns Scholarship” to help financially challenged young people get an education. According to AdAge, the commercial will explain Kia’s decision to create a commercial without a celebrity spokesperson so they could contribute that money instead to scholarships for “unfamous” people.
Nonprofits lucky enough to be connected with the Super Bowl frenzy will be the real winners this weekend.
