Hall of Fame Coach Mike Ditka to Host Charity Fundraising Event During Super Bowl Week in New Orleans

CHICAGO, Jan. 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Hall of Fame coach Mike Ditka will be hosting a charity fundraising event to benefit Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund and The Kevin Turner Foundation on February 1, 2013 from 7pm to 10pm at The Foundry (333 Saint Joseph Street) in New Orleans, LA, as part of the Super Bowl week festivities. The event entitled, An Exclusive Evening With Ditka and Friends, will allow attendees to spend time with Coach Ditka and some of his NFL friends, hear their stories, and contribute to a worthy cause. The evening will also feature a special live music performance from The Kyle Turley Band, featuring former New Orleans Saint Pro-Bowler, Kyle Turley.

Mike Ditka will be joined by Lawrence Taylor, Dan Reeves, Ron "Jaws" Jaworski, Merril Hoge, Jack Youngblood, Rich Gannon, Paul Hornung, Ron Rivera, Kyle Turley, Kevin Turner, Vince Papale, Adam Schefter, Lem Barney, Joe DeLamielleure, Mel Renfro, Ricky Watters, Ted Johnson, Matt Birk, Mike Lucci, Dennis McKinnon, Tom Nowatzke and other NFL greats. To maintain the exclusive and intimate nature of the event only 250 tickets will be sold. Included in the $500 price of the ticket will be an open bar, contemporary cuisine and live entertainment.

"I'm looking forward to spending the evening with some of my close NFL friends, sharing stories and meeting the people who come out to support Gridiron Greats and The Kevin Turner Foundation," says Coach Ditka. "These two charities are doing important work for former NFL players and raising awareness for some of the critical issues facing everyone involved in football at any level. Please join me in supporting these two worthy causes."

We would like to extend a very special thank you to our partners and sponsors: Amway, Hourglass Wealth Management, Americas Pastime, Stub Hub, Terlato Wines, Camacho Cigars, Farber & Co., Coastal Orthopaedics, Rudolph Foods as well as individuals who have purchased tickets to this special event. This event was made possible because of their generosity.

All proceeds from the event will go to Gridiron Greats and The Kevin Turner Foundation. A charity auction of autographed NFL player memorabilia will also part of the evening's activities.

To purchase tickets, or for more information on "An Exclusive Evening with Ditka and Friends," please visit: www.gridirongreats.org or www.kevinturnerfoundation.org. To ask questions or purchase tickets by phone please call: Shannon Jordan, Gridiron Greats: (773) 867-8161 or Tamara Alan, The Kevin Turner Foundation: (615) 400-4332.

About Gridiron Greats
The GGAF's mission is to assist dire need retired NFL players who were pioneers of the game and who have greatly contributed to the NFL's status as the most popular sport in America. GGAF provides hands-on assistance to help retired players and their families deal with hardships they face after football. The services include medical assistance, transportation costs for medical evaluations and surgeries, dental assistance, housing assistance, financial assistance for utilities, medication, and coordination of services for food, automotive payments and childcare.

About The Kevin Turner Foundation The Kevin Turner Foundation has been created to bring attention to ALS and the need for a cure; to raise awareness about the seriousness of brain trauma in athletes at every level of competition and its connection to motor neuron diseases like ALS; and to financially support efforts to study, treat, prevent and ultimately cure this disease.

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SOURCE Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund