Two Ohio High Schools Donate to Operation Gridiron Airlift

Press Release: OGA09-PR-6

Posted: Saturday, November 28, 2009

On October 30, Orrville High School hosted Wooster High School in its final high school football game of the regular season. In the weeks prior to the game, both Ohio high schools collected footballs in support of Operation Gridiron Airlift. Fans of both teams attending the game were also encouraged to donate footballs that evening. Together, the two schools collected 132 footballs and also raised $250 dollars to help with the cost of shipping the footballs to our troops serving overseas.

The footballs and a check for $250 were presented to the coordinator of Operation Gridiron Airlift, retired Master Sergeant Randy Snow, during a pre-game ceremony at Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The ceremony took place on the field prior to the Ball State at Western Michigan University football game on Tuesday, November 24. The game was broadcast live on ESPN2. WMU starting quarterback Tim Hiller is a graduate of Orrville High School and he and his family were on hand at mid-field for the presentation.

The following day, the check was turned over to the Family Support Office at the Battle Creek Air National Guard Base in Battle Creek, Michigan, which has sent many footballs overseas for Operation Gridiron Airlift since last year. Thank you to both schools for showing their support of our men and women serving overseas.

The list of contributors to Operation Gridiron Airlift continues to grow and includes the following;

• The National Football League / Detroit Lions (2008)

• The Arena Football League / Grand Rapids Rampage (2008)

• arenafootball2 / Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz (2009)

• The Continental Indoor Football League / Kalamazoo Xplosion (2008)

• The Intense Football League / San Angelo Stampede Express (2008)

• The United States Air Force Academy (Mountain West Conference) (2008)

• Western Michigan University (Mid-American Conference) (2008)

• Central Michigan University (Mid-American Conference) (2008)

• Michigan State University (Big Ten Conference) (2009)

• Purdue University (Big Ten Conference) (2008)

• Arizona State University (Pac-10 Conference) (2009)

• FlexFab LLC of Hastings, Michigan (2008)

• Hackett Catholic Central High School, Kalamazoo, Michigan (2009)

• Kalamazoo Christian High School, Kalamazoo, Michigan (2009)

• Orrville High School, Orrville, Ohio (2009)

• Wooster High School, Wooster, Ohio (2009)

• Private donations

About Operation Gridiron Airlift

For our troops serving overseas, the simplest gifts from home are always a welcome sight and very much appreciated. And what is more American than a football? Sometimes, just tossing a football around or organizing a friendly game while deployed overseas can be a welcome diversion, bringing a bit of home to a foreign location. That's why Operation Gridiron Airlift has been collecting new and used footballs, that are in good condition, and sending them to our troops serving overseas. 

Founded in 2008, the organizer of Operation Gridiron Airlift is retired Master Sergeant Randy Snow of Kalamazoo, Michigan. He spent 21 years serving in the Michigan Air National Guard and retired as a member of the Battle Creek ANG Base in 2002. Since 2003, he has covered the Arena Football League, arenafootball2, the Continental Indoor Football League, United Indoor Football and the Indoor Football League. He has also covered the All American Football League and the Canadian Football League. His work can be found on ArenaFan.com, OurSportsCentral.com and AmericanChronicle.com.

For more information, or to make a donation, contact Randy at RandySnow22@yahoo.com. You can also visit www.OperationGridironAirlift.com or the Operation Gridiron Airlift page on Facebook.