Pro Bowl quarterback Ken Anderson hosting bowling for charity tournament in Bluffton
The NFL has tweaked the format of its Pro Bowl over the past couple years in order to make it more appealing to fans.
But it's nothing like what former NFL MVP and Pro Bowl quarterback Ken Anderson is doing.
Anderson, a Hilton Head Island resident, will host local residents at Bluffton's Station 300 on Sunday for the inaugural Pro Bowl Open Presented by Charter One Realty.
Fans will have the opportunity to meet, talk with and watch the game with Anderson while also participating in a Pro Bowl Open bowling tournament in conjunction with the game.
The event is a fundraiser for Osprey Village, an inclusive residential community for developmentally disabled adults. Anderson got involved with the nonprofit because of his foundation in Cincinnati that does something similar.
"(My wife Cristy and I) said how can we get involved and the next thing I know I'm on the board," Anderson said. "This was my idea. It's a fundraising event. You know, there are a lot of golf tournaments, but they're dependent on the weather, so I said, 'Let's do a bowling event.'
"Come and bowl and watch the NFL Pro Bowl with a guy that played in four Pro Bowls. That's the theme of the night."
And help a good cause, of course.
David Green, Osprey Village's director of development and operations, said he's not aware of any organization that does quite what his group does.
"What happens when we're getting old and can't care for our son or daughter or brother or sister with developmental disabilities?" he said. "There are drawbacks to group homes and campuses."
Green said his organization looked to do something in between, establish a community with a purpose, supporting adults with developmental disabilities and their aging care givers.
"It's an inclusive facility, he said. "It looks like any neighborhood, but inside, there are people with developmental disabilities and people who want to be part of an informal support system. It's a neighbor-helping-neighbor approach."
Green hopes Anderson's event will raise close to $20,000.
"Ken's been a big part of that and his name and the Pro Bowl go hand in hand," Green said. "In addition, it's a good thing just to get our name out there for people to see."
Anderson estimates the crowd will be in the hundreds.
"We can get a few more," he said. "I think we have a couple lanes still available."
The event costs $100 for attendees that bowl or $50 for people who just want to be there for the fun. Ticket price includes food, beer and wine tickets and a poster of Anderson.
The band Target will play from 6 to 8 p.m., and there will be a silent auction. Also, there will be an indoor miniature golf course set up in the arcade. There will be a tournament and the low score will win a jersey autographed by Anderson.
Anderson made it clear he wasn't making a token appearance just to drum up attendance.
"I'll be directly involved in the whole thing," he said. "I've spent a lot of time out there organizing it. I'll be giving stuff away. I'll be the one announcing the prizes. Those posters, I've already signed 150 of those, and I'll be there if there's something else that needs autographing."
The Pro Bowl Open Presented by Charter One Realty
What: A Pro Bowl watch party and bowling tournament hosted by former Pro Bowl quarterback and NFL MVP Ken Anderson.
When: 6-10 p.m. Sunday
Where: Station 300, Bluffton
Why: To raise money for local nonprofit Osprey Village
How much: $100 to bowl, $50 to enjoy the fun.
Tickets: For those hoping to bowl, visit www.OspreyVillage.org. Otherwise, tickets are available at the door.
This story was originally published January 24, 2015 at 12:05 AM with the headline "Pro Bowl quarterback Ken Anderson hosting bowling for charity tournament in Bluffton."