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Service-Packed Super Bowl Weekend

SERVICE BLITZ:

Over 350 teens from area churches and schools will kick off Super Bowl

weekend by serving those in need through the Souper Bowl of Caring

Service Blitz. Local youth will gather for breakfast to hear from organization

Founder Rev. Brad Smith and George Rogers, 1980 Heisman Trophy winner

and part of Super Bowl XXII Championship team.  Youth ambassadors will

also speak before the teen volunteers depart to serve at thirteen

Midlands charities.

KICK-OFF EVENT

Saturday, January 31, 2009, 8:30 a.m.

Dent Middle School

2721 Decker Blvd., Columbia, SC 29206

VOLUNTEERING

Saturday, January 31, 2009 10:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.

Youth will be serving at 13 area charities

Media opportunities are available at: Salvation Army-2025 Main Street,

Columbia, SC 29201; Harvest Hope Food Bank-2220 Shop Road,

Columbia, SC 29201; God's Storehouse-1731 Risley Road, Columbia,

SC 29223

PHONE BANK:

After youth across the country collect donations and volunteer through

the Souper Bowl of Caring on Super Bowl Sunday, each group will call

and report their collection amount so a national total can be determined.

Columbia-area youth will staff a phone bank to take calls from groups

reporting their Souper Bowl of Caring collections.

Sunday, February 1, 2009, 12:00 p.m.- 6:00 p.m.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina

2501 Faraway Road, Columbia, SC 29223

MORE INFO:

Souper Bowl of Caring started at Spring Valley Presbyterian Church in

Northeast Columbia in 1990 when a young minister prayed, “Lord, even

as we enjoy the Super Bowl football game, help us be mindful of those

without even a bowl of soup to eat.”  From that prayer, the Souper Bowl

of Caring was born and more than $50 million has been raised nationwide.

Every penny collected is donated directly to a charity as  selected by each

participating church or school. No money comes to the Souper Bowl of

Caring to support administrative costs.

In 2008, 14,500 organizations collected over $10 million and every penny

went to local organizations that help people in need. Souper Bowl of Caring

organizers expect this year to be bigger than ever, with young people from

17,000 congregations, schools and civic clubs signed up to participate.