While games like the Rose Bowl and Orange Bowl were created to boost tourism, draw fans to iconic locations like Los Angeles County and Miami, and games like the Quick Lane Bowl generate revenue from sponsorship and advertising, the Peach Bowl was created. with another goal in mind: charity.
Peach Bowl president Gary Stokan said his organization emphasizes giving back to the community.
“We are the most charitable bowling organization in the country. We’ve spent $58.2 million since 2002,” Stokan said. “Part of our mission is to give back, and we do it humbly.”
The Peach Bowl organization contributes both to the city of Atlanta, where the game takes place, and to the communities of the programs invited to the game.
“Of the $58.2 million, we recently donated $20 million to Children’s Healthcare in Atlanta to help eradicate childhood cancer,” Stokan said. “We Have Seven” [clinical] trials now, [and] one of the trials is affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh.”
The players participating in the Peach Bowl will also do their part by spending time with the kids at an Atlanta hospital as part of the bowling week festivities.
The organization honors the legacy of one of Atlanta’s favorite sons, U.S. Representative and civil rights activist John Lewis.
“We’re going to spend $100,000 on a scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh to play our bowl game,” Stokan said. “It goes to the John Lewis Legacy of Courage Scholarship. It will be endowed for underprivileged children to come to [Pitt].”
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