A fan has won the chance to have dinner, or work out, with NFL superstar Tom Brady as well as a pack of Tampa Bay Buccaneers opening game tickets and memorabilia after a making winning bid of $800,000 at a fundraising auction.
The auction reached the top bid on Tuesday as part of a series of celebrity and athlete offerings in the 'All In Challenge' fundraiser to help feed those in need during the coronavirus pandemic.
Also included in the auction collection is Brady's game jersey and cleats from his first game for Tampa Bay. Brady has signed with the Buccaneers after 20 years and six Super Bowls with the New England Patriots.
Other auction items include a round of golf and dinner with twice NFL Super Bowl winner Peyton Manning, which attracted a $525,000 bid, and a day of activities with Hall of Fame basketball great Magic Johnson that had a high bid of nearly $100,000.
The identities of the leading bidders were not immediately available.
Fanatics Executive Chairman Michael Rubin, who initiated the auctions and sweepstakes prizes through the popular sportswear retailer, said he drew on the popular Ice Bucket Challenge to benefit ALS research when he initiated the auctions.
Rubin, a co-owner of NBA team the Philadelphia 76ers, said he approached Brady and Manning before launching the auctions and sweepstakes and they were immediately on board.
I accept the #ALLINCHALLENGE. Watch the video & go to https://t.co/bRtYgf65MS to get involved. I challenge my wife @giseleofficial, my buddy @drake & YOU @nflcommish to go ALL IN! pic.twitter.com/QDeBNEM0rf
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) April 15, 2020
"The country misses their sports and the country misses their athletes," said Rubin, reflecting on the popularity of the sports prizes offered through the auction, which raised $21.5 million in 13 days.
"We have a responsibility to make a real difference."
Other top items include Rapper Meek Mill's Rolls Royce Phantom, which had a top bid of $320,000 on Tuesday, and a sweepstakes prize from Novak Djokovic that includes playing with the 17-time Grand Slam tennis champion and signed merchandise.
