ATLANTA (Sept. 30, 2024) – Aflac and Peach Bowl, Inc. have once again teamed up through the Aflac Kickoff Game to
raise and donate $402,855 for their
“Kickoff for a Cause” initiative, giving back to the communities they serve. This initiative aligns with September’s National Childhood Cancer and Sickle Cell Awareness Month, reflecting their shared commitment to supporting patients and families through all stages of treatment.
Peach Bowl, Inc., known as college football’s most charitable bowl organization, has a longstanding relationship with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. In 2019, Peach Bowl, Inc. established the
Peach Bowl LegACy Fund at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center with a
$20 million gift to fund clinical trials for cutting-edge treatments for children with cancer. Peach Bowl, Inc. continues to raise additional funds through initiatives like the Peach Bowl Touchdowns for Children’s campaign, where fan donations per touchdown are matched by the organization. To date, Peach Bowl, Inc. has raised over $22 million for Children’s, which has created 14 clinical trials at five hospitals in four states.
“Our partnership with Aflac is about using college football to make a difference in the lives of children and families,” said Peach Bowl, Inc. CEO and President Gary Stokan. “In partnership with Aflac, an organization that shares our dedication to giving back, has allowed us to expand our impact through the ‘Kickoff for a Cause’ initiative. We’re excited to continue building on this tradition in future Aflac Kickoff Games.”
Aflac, the leading provider of supplemental health insurance in the U.S.,
1 has been dedicated to supporting children with cancer and blood disorders for nearly three decades. Since 1995, Aflac independent sales agents, employees and The Aflac Foundation, Inc., have given
more than $184 million to the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, which cares for approximately 9,500 children with cancer and blood disorders annually.
“Helping close the gap where health insurance coverage ends and medical bills begin is central to Aflac’s mission,” said Aflac U.S. President Virgil Miller. “Through the Aflac Kickoff Game and our 'Kickoff for a Cause' initiative, we extend our reach beyond the gridiron to highlight the significant work at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center—a cause we’ve championed for nearly 30 years. This partnership enables us to further support hospitals, medical professionals and young patients, making a meaningful impact that lasts well beyond game day.”
Aflac and Peach Bowl, Inc. explored additional opportunities to further support Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals in Georgia and South Carolina through a combination of fan-driven fundraising events, in-game initiatives and corporate donations.
“Kickoff for a Cause” efforts around the 2024 Aflac Kickoff Game include:
- Partnership giving: Aflac and Peach Bowl Inc. each pledged $100,000 to the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s, contributing a total of $200,000.
- Endowed scholarships: Peach Bowl, Inc.’s commitment to furthering Georgia students’ secondary education through tuition support included $50,000 donations to each school in this year’s game, totaling $100,000.
- Mascot challenge: Clemson’s The Tiger and UGA’s Hairy Dawg faced off in a friendly competition to raise funds for Prisma Health Children’s Hospital-Upstate and an Atlanta Children’s Miracle Network Hospital. While Hairy Dawg came out victorious, the challenge raised $51,710 in total. Aflac’s contribution supported this total, benefiting both hospitals and highlighting the generous spirit of the college football fans.
- 50/50 raffle: During the 2024 Aflac Kickoff Game, fans were able to make donations toward the 50/50 raffle, with half the proceeds going to a winning fan and the other half benefiting the Peach Bowl LegACy Fund, resulting in an additional $43,245 donation to Children’s.
- Patient experiences: Pro and College Football Hall of Famer UGA alum Champ Bailey and Aflac U.S. President Virgil Miller delivered free-of-charge resource, My Special Aflac Duck, to young patients at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Since 2018, Aflac has delivered more than 32,000 of these social robot ducks across the nation and in Japan and Northern Ireland to help comfort children ages 3 and up who have cancer or a blood disorder such as sickle cell diagnosis. Patients also attended the game and toured the field pre-game before warmups alongside Mr. Bailey.
- Patient-designed team shirts: Two patients from the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center created custom shirts, one for Clemson and one for UGA, which generated an additional $7,900 in proceeds that will also benefit Children’s.
Peach Bowl, Inc. and Aflac kicked off their partnership in 2023, with Aflac as the official title sponsor of the annual college football kickoff game in Atlanta. The “Kickoff for a Cause” mission will remain at the heart of this collaboration as both organizations continue to pursue their shared purpose of giving back and making a difference.