Modell's Sporting Goods and Wilson Sporting Goods donated 2,008 footballs as part of a Super Bowl wager to the Department of Youth and Community Development ( DYCD ) for distribution and youth sports programs across New York City. Food was also donated to City Harvest as part of the wager.
The footballs were delivered to three youth sports programs and DYCD, which will distribute the remaining footballs to other programs throughout the five boroughs.
Modell's Sporting Goods and Wilson Sporting Goods had pledged to donate 2,008 footballs to the winning city. Thanks to the Giants' victory, Modell's will distribute the footballs to young people in Beacon Community Centers, Out-of-School Time programs, and other youth programs that include football activities.
“Sports and recreation are an important component of DYCD's after school programs,” said DYCD Commissioner Jeanne B. Mullgrav,. “The combination of the Giants' spectacular win and the generous donation of 2,008 footballs are sure to inspire young people across the City to get active and have fun.”
“We were looking for a way to add to the spirit of the Mayors' wager and also bring something practical that would truly benefit the local youth organizations,” said Modell's Sporting Goods President and CEO Mitchell Modell. “We reached out to our friends at Wilson Sporting Goods and together we came up with a quantity of 2,008 footballs, signifying the year in which Super Bowl XLII was played.”
“The Super Bowl and tickertape parade may be over, but the Giants' win continues to bring cheer to New York City with today's delivery of food won from our wager with Mayor Menino,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “Our administration is committed to feeding the hungry, and I want to thank the businesses in Boston who donated food, Modell's for distributing footballs, FedEx for offering free shipping, and most of all, the New York Giants, whose underdog victory not only won New York City the food we are delivering today, but inspired an entire city and people throughout the world.”
Prior to Super Bowl XLII, Mayor Bloomberg and Mayor Thomas M. Menino wagered food products from New York and Boston to be donated to charity in the winning city. The donated food includes 100 cups of New England Clam Chowder from Legal Sea Foods; 42 pounds of coffee from Dunkin' Donuts ( in honor of Super Bowl XLII ); 12 dozen Boston Cream Pies and 12 Dozen Parker House Rolls ( in honor of Tom Brady's #12 ) from Boston's Omni Parker House Hotel; 100 Old Tyme hot dogs and 100 Alfresco chicken sausages from Kayem; 20 pizzas from Sal's; 5 cases of Brigham's “Boston You're My Home” Ice Cream; 5 cases of Cherry on the Top Frozen Yogurt Bars from Elan; and 100 servings of Stonyfield Farm Organic Yogurt.
City Harvest will be delivering the food to local community organizations including Neighbors Together in Brooklyn; Love Gospel Kitchen in the Bronx; Broadway Community in Harlem; Bethany Baptist Church in Queens and Stapleton UAME Church in Staten Island.
