Operation Gridiron Airlift

2008 - 2010

Become a Fan of Operation Gridiron Airlift on and receive updates whenever news happens. Click here

Operation Gridiron Airlift is also featured on YouTube.

Video 1 - Operation Gridiron Airlift Promotional Video (2009) Click here

Video 2 - Receiving a football donation at a WMU Football Game (11-24-2009) Click here

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 is collecting new and used footballs, that are in good condition, and sending them to our troops serving overseas. 

To date, footballs from Operation Gridiron Airlift have made their way to service men and women serving in Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Italy and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The Pat Tillman Memorial USO Center at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan has received multiple shipments of donated footballs.

Many pro football leagues, teams and universities have donated footballs embossed with their official school or league logo.

• To view some of the donated footballs, click here.

• To see some of the footballs being used overseas, click here.

• To read some of the letters we have received, click here.

• To see our tribute to Pat Tillman, click here.

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.

Here is a list of contributors who have donated footballs to Operation Gridiron Airlift;

    Pro Football Leagues

• National Football League - Detroit Lions (2008)

• Arena Football League - Grand Rapids Rampage (2008)

• Arena Football League/af2 -  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)

• Other Private Donations

For more information, or to make a donation, contact Randy at RandySnow22@yahoo.com.

Press Releases

West Virginia University Makes a Football Donation (November 19, 2010)

Maple Valley High School Collecting Footballs for Troops (October 4, 2010)

IFL West Michigan Thunderhawks Donate Footballs (September 22, 2010)

Galesburg-Augusta High School to Hold Football Collection Drive (September 11, 2010)

Operation Gridiron Airlift Delivers Footballs to Fort Wayne Air National Guard Base (February 20, 2010)

FlexFab LLC Makes Second Donation to Operation Gridiron Airlift (February 15, 2010)

Footballs on their way to Iraq and Italy (January 22, 2010)

Operation Gridiron Airlift featured on YouTube (January 9, 2010)

Two Ohio High Schools Donate to Operation Gridiron Airlift (November 28, 2009)

Kalamazoo Christian High School Makes Donation to Operation Gridiron Airlift (November 6, 2009)

Hackett High School Donates to Operation Gridiron Airlift (October 14, 2009)

af2 Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz Donate to the Troops (September 24, 2009)

Michigan State Footballs Headed to the Troops (September 16, 2009)

Arizona State Donates Footballs to OGA (March 16, 2009)

100 Footballs Delivered for Shipment to the Troops (October 18,2008)

Central Michigan University Donates to Operation Gridiron Airlift (August 8, 2008)

Detroit Lions Donate Practice Footballs to the Troops (June 9, 2008)

Football Fans Will Get Their Chance to Donate at Two CIFL Games (May 9, 2008)

United States Air Force Academy Donates to the Troops (April 18, 2008)

Operation Gridiron Airlift is Underway (January 25, 2008)

Other Links

Kalamazoo Gazette Newspaper Article about Operation Gridiron Airlift (June 23, 2008)

Orrville Goal: 50 Footballs (October 29, 2009)

Rivalry for a Cause (October 29, 2009)