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The ChadTough gala returns to an in-person event this year, but you don’t have to be there to win incredible auction items, including several Michigan athletics-themed experiences.
The Champions for Change gala, which benefits the ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation, will take place on Saturday, April 23 at the Crisler Center. The auction is now live and will close at 8pm the night of the event.
The gala raises money and awareness for pediatric brain cancer research, and while the event is sold out, the public can still participate in the auction, which includes more than 250 items like unique art, meet and greets, and vacation packages.
Dozens of items involve Michigan athletics, and some of the more interesting options are listed below, along with a few from other sports teams. You can browse the entire auction, and place a bid, by clicking here. But hurry, bidding ends on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET.
Cigars and wine with Lloyd Carr
Carr, Michigan’s head football coach from 1995 to 2007, apparently has a “personal cigar shack,” and you and three friends can hang there with the Hall of Famer. Ann Arbor’s Tobacco Rose Cigars will “curate some of Coach’s favorite cigars for the experience and will also do a wine pairing demonstration for the group.”
Michigan basketball game day experience
The Glick family has donated its four courtside seats at Crisler Center, right next to the Michigan bench, for a men’s basketball game next season. After the game, the four guests will get a tour of the practice center from head coach Juwan Howard’s wife, Jenine. She’ll introduce the guests to Juwan, his staff, and players. As is the case with many of the Wolverine-related experiences, participants must not be in grades 9 through 12 or a college athlete in order to comply with NCAA rules.
Get on the field at the Big House
Four guests will receive tickets to the Michigan football game against Illinois (Nov. 19) and will be given field access during pregame warmups or for one quarter of the game.
Ohio State celebration photo
Remember when Michigan beat Ohio State in football last season? Of course you do. The victory is captured in a giant (65 x 42) canvas photograph with a black frame, and is signed by head coach Jim Harbaugh.
Detroit Tigers 1984 World Series champs signed baseball
Sparky Anderson, Kirk Gibson, Alan Trammell, and Jack Morris are among the signatures on a baseball commemorating the last Tigers team to win the World Series, in 1984.
Detroit Lions sideline package
This items includes four club seat tickets to a Lions game along with pregame sideline passes. The game will be chosen once the 2022 NFL schedule is released.
Pick the play card photo at Michigan Stadium
This writer’s personal favorite item is the ability to choose a photo that appears on a play card for the Michigan football team. Choose your face, your pet, or anything else, so long as it’s appropriate (and not a business logo), and a staff member will hold it on the sideline while the Wolverines are on offense. Who knows, maybe the play will result in a touchdown? This item already has more than 90 bids and is the most expensive.
Meals -- dinner, coffee, Happy Hour -- with Michigan coaches
Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel and several Michigan coaches welcome fans to meet for coffee, lunch, happy hour, or dinner. Among the options are dinner with the Manuels and baseball coach Erik Bakich and his wife at Ann Arbor’s Chop House; coffee with softball coach Carol Hutchins or men’s basketball assistant Saddi Washington or former basketball coach John Beilein; dinner with volleyball coaches Mark and Leisa Rosen; breakfast with hockey coach Mel Pearson or his predecessor, Red Berenson; meals with various Michigan football assistants, including dinner with Mike Hart or happy hour with Ron Bellamy and Jay Harbaugh and their wives. Many of these experiences also include a facility tour.
Quarterback training with J.J. McCarthy
This item is for a child, and includes 10 lessons from renowned quarterback coach Greg Holcomb in Chicago. He’s trained many successful quarterbacks, including Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy, who will join the winner for one of the lessons.
Zamboni ride at Yost
In addition to four tickets to a Michigan hockey game at Yost Arena, a fan 8 to 12 will get a chance to ride the Zamboni during a break in the action.
Michigan’s women’s basketball inside access
The winner and a guest will meet with Michigan women’s basketball head coach Kim Barnes Arico at the practice facility for a tour, watch practice, and meet players and staff. The Wolverines reached the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament last month.
Michigan football recruit for a day
You probably weren’t recruited to play football at Michigan, but now you can have a similar experience. The winner and a guest will visit Schembechler Hall for professional photos in full uniform, tour the facilities, and have lunch with Denard Robinson and the rest of the recruiting staff.
Travel with the Bowling Green football team to the Rose Bowl
It’s not the Wolverines, but it’s pretty cool. The winner and a guest will travel with the Bowling Green football team, coached by former Michigan quarterback and assistant coach Scot Loeffler, to Pasadena, California, for the season opener at UCLA. The game will be played at the iconic Rose Bowl. In addition to traveling with the team, the winners will stay in the team hotel, join the team for meetings and meals, and attend the game.
