"Sponsored" Footballs to Support Fort Meade Game

The West Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce has found a way to help promote area businesses while supporting an annual Army-Navy flag football game at Fort Meade.

For $20, organizations and individuals can "sponsor" a football that will be thrown into the crowd during the game, to be played in December at Mullins Field on the base.

Buyers may the write the name of their company and contact information on the football, but are also encouraged to write a message in support of the military.

"They can make it like a business card, or just write a message," said Lynn Nichols, of the chamber's military affairs committee, which is spearheading the sale. "Whatever they'd like."

Proceeds from the balls will help fund the tailgate, which will be free to military members and their families. Nichols said she's sold about 20 of the ball sponorships so far.

The chamber introduced the footballs at a breakfast meeting of members last week. Chamber representatives were also selling the football sponsorships at Odenton Day.

Nichols said the committee also hopes to collect some autographed footballs of current and former NFL members and raffle those off to raise additional money. 

For the most part the balls are being marketed to businesses, but individuals can purchase them, too.

"The more you buy, the more we can do," Nichols said.