December 18, 2015
The impact of the bowl system is evident in several ways. Players and coaching staffs are rewarded for their success on the field. Fans and alumni get to share their passion for their team with others in a fresh, exciting atmosphere. However, there’s an impact that may not be as evident to college football fans: the extensive community outreach of the bowls.
Each of the 41 bowls provides philanthropic and charity efforts to its host community, and these year-round efforts reflect the dedication that the bowl staffs have to the cities that support their efforts.
“The leadership of the bowls are the most influential and civic active citizens in a community,” said Wright Waters, executive director of the Football Bowl Association. “From the very beginning, bowls have served a purpose of promoting local communities, and in recent years, that has grown to support for local community projects. From playgrounds to scholarships, from support of high school championships to veterans’ causes, it is an important feature of postseason football.”
While most bowls provide support to multiple charities and philanthropic efforts, there are a few unique partnerships that define the relationship between a bowl game and the city it serves. In Memphis, the AutoZone Liberty Bowl and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital have enjoyed a partnership for several decades, including team visit’s to the hospital, St. Jude kids getting an opportunity to attend the game and join the halftime entertainer on stage, and of course donations to the hospital.
“Thanks to our bowl’s generous partners, supporters and volunteers, the AutoZone Liberty Bowl donated $143,586 to St. Jude in 2015,” said Steve Ehrhart, Executive Director of the AutoZone Liberty Bowl.
The following list provides links to additional information about the bowl system’s charitable efforts:
College Football National Championship
CFP Foundation’s Extra Yard For Teachers
Allstate Sugar Bowl
Crescent City Classic
Youth Football Clinics
Battlefrog Fiesta Bowl and Motel 6 Cactus Bowl
Fiesta Bowl Charities
Capital One Orange Bowl
Orange Bowl Community Programs
Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl
“College Football’s Most Charitable Bowl Game”
Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
Cotton Bowl Classic Art Contest
Rose Bowl Game
Tournament of Roses Foundation
Advocare V100 Texas Bowl
DePelchin Children’s Center
Autonation Cure Bowl
Cure Bowl Charitable Partners
Autozone Liberty Bowl
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Belk Bowl
Belk Bowl Innovation Lab Contest
Birmingham Bowl
Crippled Children’s Foundation
Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl and Russell Athletic Bowl
Florida Citrus Sports Foundation
Camping World Independence Bowl
Charitable Donation Program
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Community Partners
Foster Farms Bowl
Foster Farms Bowl Initiatives to Fight Hunger
Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl
Youth Football Program
GoDaddy Bowl
1st & 10 Club’s Scholar of the Week
Hawaii Bowl
Hawaii Bowl Foundation
Holiday Bowl
Southwest Airlines Scholarship presented by the Cushman Foundation
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
Armed Forces Bowl Charities
Marmot Boca Raton Bowl
Spirit of Giving
Military Bowl (presented by Northrop Grumman)
Community Outreach
New Era Pinstripe Bowl
Community Efforts
Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl
Boys & Girls Clubs of Tuscon and the Arizona Bowl Gives Back Program
Popeyes Bahamas Bowl
Ranfurly Homes for Children and USA Football
Quick Lane Bowl
Detroit Police Athletic League
Disabled American Veterans
R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Community Efforts
Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl
Community Outreach
St. Petersburg Bowl
Mike Alsott Family Foundation
San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl
Kaiser Permanente Youth Football Clinic
TaxSlayer Bowl
Community Outreach
Valero Alamo Bowl
Community Outreach
Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl
The Line of Duty Wall
