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Super Bowl LII brings the culmination of “Create Change”

Written By published February 7, 2018



Congratulations to the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles!

Each year, the Super Bowl offers a unique opportunity for Microsoft to highlight the season-long work that comes from our partnership with the NFL. We were proud to see the players, coaches, and officials using Microsoft Surface at pivotal moments during Sunday’s game. Super Bowl LII was an amazing game, but it is something that happened earlier in the week at our Microsoft Store at the Mall of America in Minneapolis that we’re most proud of.

Earlier this season, we launched the Create Change campaign with five NFL stars with the goal of supporting the philanthropic work they do off the field.

By partnering with these players and their foundations in providing both resources and awareness, we hope to make an impact on the lives of those in need and to use technology to create change in communities that need it most. Through a series of digital videos, social campaigns, and via integration with Microsoft Rewards, we told the stories of these special players and their work with Microsoft in strengthening their causes. In addition, fans were encouraged to share how they are creating change in their local communities on social media. Each player then selected his favorite Create Change story and presented that fan with a trip to Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis. And as part of a special Super Bowl LII edition of the campaign last week, we added Minneapolis native Larry Fitzgerald, highlighting the work he’s done in the local school district in helping close the digital divide. Whether on the field, in the classroom, or at the hospital, these players have demonstrated how Microsoft Surface can play an invaluable resource for changing lives and we are proud to have partnered with them on their missions.

Thank you, Larry Fitzgerald, Von Miller, Russell Wilson, Richard Sherman, Greg Olsen, and Martellus Bennett for the amazing and inspiring work you do off the field.

NFL players Larry Fitzgerald, Greg Olsen, Von Miller, and Russell Wilson pose with their custom designed helmets as part of Microsoft's Create Change program at the Microsoft Store at Mall of America
NFL players Larry Fitzgerald, Greg Olsen, Von Miller, and Russell Wilson pose with their custom designed helmets as part of Microsoft’s Create Change program at the Microsoft Store at Mall of America on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018 in Minneapolis. (Doug Benc/AP Images for Microsoft)

This past week saw the culmination of the Create Change campaign at the world’s biggest sporting event, the Super Bowl. Four of the Create Change players (Larry Fitzgerald, Greg Olsen, Von Miller, and Russell Wilson) were joined by NFL legend Tony Gonzalez at a panel event at the Microsoft Store in the Mall of America.

In front of hundreds of fans, media, foundations, school children, and local civic leaders, the players talked about the positive role Microsoft technology has on the charity work they do off the field and gave inspiring words about how to best use the platforms available to you to empower others and create change. On display were the custom helmets for each player’s charity. As part of the event, Microsoft donated to Larry’s charity, the First Down Fund, which will go towards providing a Surface computer lab to the Hiawatha school in Minneapolis, five minutes from Larry’s childhood home.

To learn more about the Create Change campaign, please visit surface.com/nfl.

Super Bowl LII brings the culmination of “Create Change”