Mike Ditka Hosts the Eleventh Annual Mike Ditka's Gridiron Greats Hall of Fame Induction Gala at Hyatt Regency Chicago, 151 E. Wacker, Chicago, IL

    CHICAGO, IL, August 09, 2019 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund, Inc., a non-profit that provides medical and financial assistance to former NFL players and their families in dire need, will host its 11th annual Mike Ditka's Hall of Fame Gala in Chicago on September 6th at 6:00 p.m. The gala will be held at the elegant Hyatt Regency in Chicago and will honor former NFL players for their outstanding careers as well as their charitable work off the field. John Tournour (J.T. the Brick) will resume his role as Master of Ceremonies.

The Gridiron Greats Class of 2019 Hall of Fame Inductees include: former Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher; former Chicago Bears defensive tackle and coach of the Chicago Slaughter, Steve McMichael; former Edmonton Eskimos offensive linemen Hector Pothier; Bears and Panthers cornerback Charles "Peanut" Tillman; former Tampa Bay Buccaneers center Randy Grimes; and former Raiders and Bills linebacker Phil Villapiano. Additionally, a special tribute will be given to former Chicago Bears center Mike Pyle- unbeaten Yale Football captain and offensive line anchor of the 1963 Championship Chicago Bears.

Gridiron Greats will be honoring the following inductees as our "Men of the Year" representing the Adios Men's Golf Club - Joe Burch, Jim Covert, Bill LaFever, Mike Lucci, Patrick Marino, Spencer Merinoff, Darius Rucker and Nick Stratigakes, for their unprecedented generosity and enthusiasm in advocating and raising funds for the charity since 2010.

In addition, Sylvia Mackey, wife of former NFL legend and Hall of Famer John Mackey, will present her namesake Award to Mrs. Shannon Jordan, the current Vice President of Alumni Relations of the Oakland Raiders and the former Executive Director of Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund.

Charles Tillman will also receive the Marv Levy Impact Award, which recognizes an advocate for the Armed Forces who has dedicated much of their time and influence supporting and serving the military community, has exceptional leadership qualities, and is honorable, honest and courageous.

Proceeds for this special night will benefit the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund, which is an independent 501(c)(3) organization providing assistance to NFL players in dire need.

Mike Ditka, President of the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund, says "Happy to be honoring these guys and Shannon. They have helped pave the way for current players and deserve the recognition for all that they do. I'm excited to host the gala here in Chicago and support the Gridiron Greats.

"Hyatt Regency Chicago is proud to host the Gridiron Greats event and we are honored to be a small part in recognizing these important individuals and their contributions." – Patrick Donelly, General Manager of Hyatt Regency Chicago

A special thanks to CFL, CFLAA, Chicago Bears, Christian Louboutin, Cinespace, Coastal Orthopedics, DPI Direct, a DigitalPro company, Cicco's Menswear, G3, Hourglass Wealth Management, Hyatt Regency Chicago, Miller Lite, Neuro XPF, NFL Foundation, Oakland Raiders, Periscope, Titos and TMI Sports Medicine and to all our supporters who purchased tables and program ads.

Limited tickets/tables are available for purchase. For more information on tickets and sponsorships: http://www.gridirongreats.org/halloffame Karen Wright (847) 656-5487

About Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund
The Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund, Inc. (GGAF) is a Wisconsin nonprofit corporation that has received recognition of federal tax-exempt status as a public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Gridiron Greats' mission is to assist dire need retired NFL players and their families. GGAF provides medical assistance and financial assistance for day-to-day necessities. http://www.gridirongreats.org/

About Hyatt Regency Chicago
Set within the epicenter of the city, Hyatt Regency Chicago is the ideal location for experiencing all that Chicago has to offer. Just steps from the Magnificent Mile, the hotel offers convenient access to acclaimed shopping, the theater district, Navy Pier, Millennium Park and other premier downtown Chicago attractions. The hotel's guest rooms feature all the comforts of home, along with breathtaking views of the Chicago River and downtown cityscape. Enjoy over 240,000 sq ft of updated meeting and event space, state of the art technology, enhanced on-site networking areas and power stations throughout the hotel.

151 E. Wacker
Chicago, IL 60601

To learn more about Hyatt Regency Chicago, please call (312) 565-1234 or visit https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/illinois/hyatt-regency-chicago/chirc or https://twitter.com/HyattChicago.

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