Cardinals president Bidwill donates $10,000 to St. Louis charity
Mar 26, 2017, 12:20 PM | Updated: Mar 27, 2017, 3:40 pm
Arizona Cardinals team president Michael Bidwill arrives at NFL offices for meetings, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2015, in New York. The NFL's expansion committee comprised of six powerful owners is hearing presentations from St. Louis, San Diego and Oakland on their stadium situations. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
(AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
An NFL owner whose team used to call St. Louis home is stepping up his involvement in the community, though it’s not the recently departed Rams. It’s Michael Bidwill of the Arizona Cardinals.
As reported by Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dospatch, the Cardinals’ president donated $10,000 to the St. Louis Tom Lombardo chapter of the National Football Foundation this week. The organization’s goal is to promote youth, particularly high school, football in the area.
The organization has taken a hit since the Rams left for Los Angeles before the 2016 NFL season. Bob Bunton Sr., the executive director of the St. Louis chapter, sent a letter to Bidwill asking for financial help. Dan Dierdorf, Johnny Roland, Roger Wehrli, and coach Jim Hanifan, all ex-Cardinals players, signed onto the request.
“It was manna from heaven,” Bunton said. “(Bidwill) didn’t even hesitate. It’s a big load off our backs to know that we can continue on with the programs that we feel recognize deserving kids.”
The Cardinals called St. Louis home from 1960 to 1987 under Bill Bidwill, Michael’s father. The Cardinals current owner supported keeping the Rams in Missouri when the plan to relocate arose.
His donation will provide tickets and plaques for the top 25 high school players in the area, who are honored at the chapter’s annual banquet.
