| Erskine College netnews |
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Souper Bowl
Sunday |
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125 Sparkleberry Lane * Columbia, SC 29223 * 800-358-SOUP * 803-788-3589 |
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Immediate Release Contact: Brad Smith (803) 788-33589 |
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Young people, housewives and even couch potatoes can team up with Reggie White in the Souper Bowl--make that the S-O-U-P-E-R Bowl of Caring. There are no blitzes or sacks in this effort. In fact, everyone comes out of this game a winner. The "Souper Bowl of Caring" is a simple yet significant effort of caring and unity that encourages fans everywhere to team-up for a different sort of victory. The concept is truly simple. As parishioners leave worship on Super Bowl Sunday (or the closest day possible), they are invited to give $1 and one canned good each to help hungry and hurting people in their communities. Young people standing at sanctuary exits receive the dollar donations in soup caldrons and then send the proceeds directly to the local charity of their congregation's choice. The 1997 Souper Bowl of Caring saw
5,500 congregations representing all fifty states and
Canada team up to raise $1,100,000 to care for hurting
and hungry people around the country. "Imagine the
day when even one-quarter of the Super Organizers of the effort don't control the use of the donations. In fact they never touch a penny of it. They believe that each community knows it needs best, so each church is asked to donate its collection directly to a charity it chooses. Organizers only ask that a representative call 800-358-SOUP on Super Bowl Sunday to report totals. This year, Campbell's Soup and NFL star Reggie White are helping spread word of the effort as part of a national promotional campaign that includes radio ads, mini-posters sent to congregations and a press conference in San Diego the Wednesday before the big game. The Souper Bowl of Caring's straightforward approach has helped it score big since its kickoff in 1990. It began with the young people of Spring Valley Presbyterian Church and their associate pastor who launched a city-wide effort in 1990. That year 22 churches raised $5,700. An aggregate of nearly three million dollars has been raised over the life of the effort. Organizers hope to top two millions dollars on January 25. Join the team and get ready for
game-day, January 25! No advance sign up is required.
Congregations simply advertise the effort, announce and
receive the offering on January 25, report totals and
deliver the proceeds to the charity you |
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"...Whatever
you did for these least brothers, you did for me."
