Operation Gridiron Airlift Delivers Footballs to Fort Wayne Air National Guard Base 

Press Release: OGA10-PR-4

Posted: Saturday, February 20, 2010

A total of 182 footballs were delivered today to the Family Readiness Office at the 122nd Fighter Wing in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The footballs will be making their way to unit members currently deployed overseas in Afghanistan and Iraq. Also receiving footballs will be members of the 338th Quartermaster Company, a Fort Wayne Army National Guard unit, that also has members deployed overseas.

The 122nd Fighter Wing currently flies F-16 Fighting Falcons, but will soon be converting to the A-10 Thunderbolt II. You can visit the unit's web site at www.122fw.ang.af.mil.

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.

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

Pro Football Leagues

• National Football League / Detroit Lions (2008)

• Arena Football League / Grand Rapids Rampage (2008)

• Arena Football League / Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz (2009)

• Continental Indoor Football League / Kalamazoo Xplosion (2008)

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

Colleges

• 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)

High Schools

• 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)

Other

• FlexFab LLC of Hastings, Michigan (2008/2010)

• Other private donations

For more information, or to make a donation, contact Randy at RandySnow22@yahoo.com. You will also find Operation Gridiron Airlift on Facebook and YouTube, or visit www.OperationGridironAirlift.com.