Pro Football Hall of Fame Qb Terry Bradshaw Partners With Waterboys to Fund a Clean Water Well in East Africa

PITTSBURGH, PA, April 14, 2017 (Newswire.com) - The Chris Long Foundation announced today that Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw and his wife, Tammy, fully funded the construction of one sustainable, solar-powered deep borehole well in East Africa through the organization’s cornerstone initiative, Waterboys. The Bradshaws’ charitable contribution will cover all the costs to erect Waterboys’ 19^th well and service a community of up to 7,500 people.

“Waterboys does a fantastic job of providing water for the people in North Africa, and to the families that have to struggle to go and get clean water,” Bradshaw said. “I helped finish up Well 17 and I now am providing the funds for Well 19 because I believe so strongly that our calling on earth is to not always receive, but our calling on earth is that God has blessed us with the ability to help others.”

"Waterboys does a fantastic job of providing water for the people in North Africa, and to the families that have to struggle to go and get clean water," Bradshaw said. "I helped finish up Well 17 and I now am providing the funds for Well 19 because I believe so strongly that our calling on earth is to not always receive, but our calling on earth is that God has blessed us with the ability to help others."

Terry Bradshaw, Hall of Fame Quarterback

In the six days leading up to Super Bowl LI, the Bradshaws contributed to the Waterboys’ Super Bowl fundraising campaign, which resulted in the funding to construct Well 17 and 20 percent of Well 18. Bradshaw followed up on live on FOX Sports’ Super Bowl pre-game announcing his pledge to support the organization by funding a Waterboys well.

“Terry and Tammy’s generosity and commitment to growing Waterboys is unbelievable,” Waterboys Founder/Super Bowl Champion defensive end Chris Long said. “They’ve been active supporters since the beginning, and now they’re opening the door for others to respond to global water issues and make a lasting impact on thousands of people who desperately need help.”

In an effort to further Waterboys’ mission to involve NFL players, fans and local communities in mitigating the global water crisis, the Bradshaws are now challenging local faith-based organizations in Pittsburgh to match their donation of $45,000 over Easter weekend and fund what would be Waterboys’ 20^th well. The Bradshaws’ challenge is a preview to the forthcoming “Waterboys Sunday” program – a collective day of action that will begin during the 2017 NFL season, where faith-based organizations will team up with NFL players and fans to provide life-saving water to East African communities in need.

Organizations that wish to participate in the challenge or learn more about “Waterboys Sunday,” which will officially launch this fall, should visit www.WaterboysSunday.org. 

For more from Terry Bradshaw and his support for Waterboys, please see view his challenge video by visiting https://youtu.be/qt_xmfZf294.

About Waterboys:

Waterboys began during a 2013 trip by Long to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. Long was struck by the beauty of Tanzania and the vibrancy of its’ people; he also witnessed great suffering due to a lack of clean water. While in Tanzania, Long met Doug Pitt, Goodwill Ambassador for Tanzania, and John Bongiorno, President of the non-profit WorldServe International, and was further educated on the needs and available solutions to the clean water crisis. Returning home, Long began to envision a pathway to champion the need for clean water in East Africa while engaging other NFL players in the cause. In 2015, Long created the Waterboys Initiative, selecting WorldServe International as its benefiting charity. Waterboys will work with WorldServe International to build wells to provide life-giving water and all that comes from it – the opportunity for education, good health, and economic stability. There are currently 11 “Waterboys,” including Long, who are committed to the effort.  Since The Chris Long Foundation launched Waterboys in August of 2015, over $1.1 million has been raised, resulting in the funding of 19 wells in East Africa. Sixteen wells are currently completed providing water to over 66,000 people.

Twitter: @WaterboysOrg

Instagram: @WaterboysOrg

Facebook: www.facebook.com/waterboysorg                  

About Terry Bradshaw

The first player chosen in the 1970 draft, Bradshaw became one of the most prolific quarterbacks in history, leading the Steelers to four Super Bowl championships, six AFC championship games and eight straight playoff appearances (1972-79). Bradshaw, a two-time Super Bowl MVP (Super Bowls XIII and XIV), was a four-time All-Pro. He retired just prior to the 1984 season. Bradshaw joined CBS Sports as an NFL game analyst in 1984 and then became a studio analyst on “The NFL Today” for four seasons beginning in 1990. He has been with FOX NFL SUNDAY since its inception in 1994, and his work on America’s most-watched NFL pregame show earned him three Sports Emmy Awards in the Outstanding Sports Personality/Analyst category in 1999, 2001 and 2008. FOX Sports’ Super Bowl LI is Bradshaw’s eighth championship assignment for FOX, his 11th as a broadcaster and his 15th overall, including as a player.

About the Chris Long Foundation:

The mission of The Chris Long Foundation is to support bright futures for communities and the individuals that make up those communities. We believe borders do not limit caring about our fellow neighbors. We engage in both international and domestic programs focused around clean water, military appreciation, homelessness and youth. Our programs strive to generate impactful results by creating opportunities and providing resources, financial support and meaningful experiences to those we serve.

About Chris Long:

Chris Long is currently playing his ninth season in the NFL, and his first as a defensive end for the New England Patriots. The first and only active University of Virginia football player to have his number retired, Long's record in the NFL is also impressive. Drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft, Long has accumulated 55.5 career sacks (40.5 of them during a 4-year span from 2010-2013). The former second overall draft pick is a four-time Pro Bowl alternate.

Long was born in Santa Monica, Calif. into a football family. The son of Diane Long and Pro Football Hall of Famer and NFL broadcaster Howie Long, Long grew up in Charlottesville, Va. along with his two brothers: Kyle, Pro Bowl guard for the Chicago Bears and Howie Jr., Oakland Raiders player personnel executive. In 2013, he married his wife, Megan; in 2016, they welcomed their first child, Waylon.

Source: The Chris Long Foundation