A total of $170,000 was raised for organizations like Asia’s Hope and Feed My Starving Children as a result of Je’Rod and Samua Cherry’s selfless action to sell his treasured Super Bowl ring.
The couple, who are members of Western Reserve Grace Brethren Church in Macedonia, Ohio (Jason Haymaker, pastor), were at Momentum East, the annual Grace Brethren youth conference, when students, volunteers, and staff raised more than $90,000 for needy children. Like others in the audience that night, the Cherrys were moved to make a sacrificial gift.
Je’Rod Cherry was a member of the New England Patriots when they won three Super Bowls in four years, the first in 2002. Each time, he received a commemorative ring. The Cherrys chose to sell the first one received because it meant the most. They estimated its value at $35,000 to $50,000, based on the sale of other similar rings. They chose a raffle format because they wanted the average individual to have an opportunity to own the ring, plus they recognized it would provide maximum return.
The winner of the ring (subject to verification) was Ray M. Rangel of Anaheim, Calif., who had heard about the raffle when Je’Rod was interviewed on ESPN’s Jim Rome Show on November 25.