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Update: In an October 31 release, DraftKings announced the NFL “Pink ‘Em” daily fantasy sports contests resulted in more than $100,000 to breast cancer research and survivors. Over four weeks of competition, Pink ‘Em saw 624,000 entries.
All proceeds from the campaign, in partnership with Larry Fitzgerald’s First Down Fund, went directly to the NFL wide receiver’s foundation.
“We were thrilled when DraftKings approached the First Down Fund to be part of its Pink ‘Em campaign, and grateful for all the fans who entered the DFS charity contests to make this possible,” Fitzgerald said in the release. “We will put the funds raised to good use in the efforts to prevent breast cancer and people affected by breast cancer.”
The adage goes: Don’t ever meet your heroes as they’re sure to disappoint you.
You may see greatness from afar, but see the opposite up close. With Larry Fitzgerald, that is far from the case.
A surefire NFL Hall of Fame inductee a few years down the road, Fitzgerald is a star on the field and off. His nickname, “Larry Legend,” does not do the Arizona Cardinals wide receiver justice.
One of the best wideouts to ever come through the league, Fitzgerald has an off-field mission that has taken center stage: the Larry Fitzgerald First Down Fund for breast cancer research. And he has DraftKings in his corner.
The daily fantasy sports giant teamed with Fitzgerald to create its NFL “Pink ‘Em” contests held every Sunday through October. All proceeds generated go straight to the First Down Fund. With still one Sunday left, it sure has not disappointed.
How to play DraftKings Pink ‘Em
In a classic style of the NFL DFS game, Pink ‘Em follows the salary cap format.
s build lineups by selecting from a pool of players but must do so without exceeding the set cap of $50,000. Lineups consist of nine players and must include athletes from at least two different games.
Result of the contest, spanning four NFL Pink ‘Em Sundays, stem from total points accumulated by each individual entry.
Nearly 300,000 players have bought into the contest, which generated more than $70,000 after two Sundays. The initial goal was $100,000.
The entrant with the most points pockets a cool $20,000, part of a prize pool of $250,000. Second place earns $10,000, followed by $5,000 for the third-place finisher. Even the 70,770th-placer gets something out of it: a $2 prize.
More about the Larry Fitzgerald First Down Fund
According to Fitzgerald’s First Down Fund website, the group holds two priorities:
- Promoting reading proficiency and technology access for youth
- ing efforts to prevent and cure breast cancer and breast cancer survivors
The latter point certainly hits close to home for Fitzgerald, whose mom died in 2003 while being treated for breast cancer.
While putting up first-ballot Hall-of-Fame numbers on the field (second-most receiving yards and receptions in NFL history), Fitzgerald has – for the most part – remained a stellar role model for youth. And that certainly does not go unnoticed by DraftKings. From a release:
“Larry Fitzgerald has used his visibility as an NFL player to several charitable initiatives, raise money for charity, and inspire others to give. He understands that his visibility as a professional athlete brings with it a responsibility to give back to the community.”
