west Virginia University makes a Football Donation 

Press Release: OGA10-PR-8

Posted: Friday, November 19, 2010

West Virginia University has become the first school in the Big East Conference to make a football donation to Operation Gridiron Airlift. WVU's donation will be added to other footballs recently received that will soon be on their way to the Pat Tillman USO Center at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. The manager of the Tillman Center is Anthony Young, who is a huge West Virginia fan. Young served in the United States Air Force for 23 and a half years and has been running the Tillman Center for the past three years. While Mr. Young will ensure that the footballs get distributed to service men and women at Bagram AB, one special West Virginia football will be addressed especially to him as a way to say thank you for all he does in supporting the troops currently serving overseas!

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)

• Indoor Football League / West Michigan ThunderHawks (2010)

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)

• West Virginia University (Big East Conference) (2010)

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)

• Maple Valley High School, Vermontville, Michigan (2010)

Other

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

• 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.