Tom Brady (Getty Images)
Brady Auctions Unique Experience for Charity
Tom Brady auctioned four tickets to his first home game as a Tampa Bay Buccaneer, along with his game-worn jersey and cleats. The winner, Logan Thirtyacre, a 25-year-old YouTube star and Brady superfan, purchased the package for an undisclosed amount. The auction was part of a charity initiative announced by Brady on April 14, 2020. He also nominated NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, his wife Gisele, and rapper Drake to participate in the effort, highlighting the cultural significance of his debut season in Tampa.
“I am all in for coronavirus relief,” Brady said in a video announcement. “I hope we can reach our goal of raising $100 million to support the frontline workers, the elderly, the children through some great causes, some great charities.”
He had just signed with Tampa Bay in March 2020. A $1 million contribution to Feeding America, which the 10 million meal pledge represented, funds actual food distribution at the local bank level. What made Brady’s participation more than symbolic was the timing. He was still transitioning to a new city, a new team, and an entirely different chapter of his career. The pandemic arrived before his first training camp. Rather than stay quiet during the chaos, Brady moved on two separate fronts, through the Meals Up initiative and the All-In Challenge, within weeks of each other. Brady’s Meals Up pledge through Wheels Up also translated into real food, not just awareness. Brady and Gisele’s direct Tampa Bay donation also reflected something local, a new resident choosing to invest in the community before even playing a game there.