Eavesdropping on practically everybody in Colorado: “Go Broncos!”

Beleaguered Toronto Mayor Rob Ford showed off his Super Bowl favorite by wearing the No. 74 Denver Broncos jersey during a press conference on Monday.

Ford, whose term as mayor has been riddled with scandals of drinking and crack-smoking, wore the jersey in support of Broncos offensive tackle Orlando Franklin, who lived in Toronto until his high school days. Franklin and his family moved to Florida when he drew interest as a football player. Franklin attended the University of Miami before being drafted by the Denver Broncos.

Orlando Franklin, above (the real No. 74 for the Denver Broncos) and Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, below, who showed his support for the AFC champions and Franklin, a former Toronto resident, during a press conference this week. (Denver Broncos photo/Twitter photo)

As the Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos prepare to face off in Super Bowl XLVIII on Sunday, community foundations in their home cities are calling on their communities to face off in a contest of charitable giving, called First and Give.

In Denver, the message is to be United in Orange to Fight Childhood Hunger, raising money to help feed hungry kids through the Food Bank of the Rockies, a flagship community partner of the Denver Broncos. Both The Denver Foundation and Food Bank of the Rockies are waiving all administrative charges so that every dollar raised will go directly to buy food for children in need.

In Seattle, they’re flexing their charitable muscles through the 12thManGives, raising money for Make-A-Wish Alaska and Washington, which grants wishes of children diagnosed with life-threatening medical conditions. The team will be sending kids to the Super Bowl through Make-A-Wish.

The great thing about First and Give is that everyone wins – the contributors, the youth, and the communities.

Beginning today, the foundations will be competing to see which organization can raise the most money and garner the highest number of individual donors through 10:59 p.m. MST on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 2.

 With two measures of success, the “competition” could easily result in two winners!

“We are united in orange, and we’re united in big giving,” said Denver Foundation President and CEO David Miller. “The Metro Denver community can turn our Broncos team spirit into generosity. It’s time to ride!”

The Seattle Foundation’s president, former Seattle Mayor Norman B. Rice, was born and raised in Denver but has been a Seahawks fan since the team launched in 1976 and is a Seahawks season ticket holder.

“This is a victory for both our cities,” Rice said. “Of course, I have no doubt that the generosity of Seattle’s 12th Man fans will put us on top!”

To give go to www.denverfoundation.org, click on “donate now” and designate to United in Orange to Fight Childhood Hunger. The Denver Foundation will forward all proceeds directly to Food Bank of the Rockies to help feed hungry children in Metro Denver.

All gifts to the fund are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law, and will be distributed quickly to help fight childhood hunger in our community.

The inaugural Aurora Sports Festival will be held this weekend, Jan. 31-Feb. 2, in conjunction with the USA Weightlifting National Junior Championships. Participants of all ages will gather for this U.S. Olympic Committee-sanctioned competition at the Crowne Plaza, Denver International Airport Convention Center.  Several Colorado youth athletes will be competing for the Junior Champion title, including:

• Erin Amos – Colorado Springs, (16-17 age group, 48 kilograms);
• Paige Holman – Pueblo West, (14-15 age group, 48kg);
• Ellen Kercher – Olympic Training Center, Colorado Springs, (junior age group, 53kg – Junior American Record holder at 48kg);
• Ruby Haman – Colorado Springs, (16-17 age group, 58kg) – trains in Denver;
• Rosa Jad – Denver, (junior age group, 63kg);
• Darren Barnes – Olympic Training Center, Colorado Springs, (junior age group, 56kg – Junior & Senior American Record holder at 56kg);
• Dalton McGregor – Colorado Springs, (junior age group, 77kg – trained by 1992 Olympian Paul Fleschler).

Additionally, Olympic coaches Jim Schmitz and Dennis Snethen will attend the Aurora Sports Festival along with Robin Goad, the last American to set a world record at the Olympic Games in 2000, and Michael Cohen who competed in the 1980 Games. Goad’s daughter, Sydney, will compete in the 48kg class, and Cohen’s sons Michael and William will compete in men’s categories.

In addition to the 2014 USA Weightlifting National Junior Championships, the Aurora Sports Festival also will feature:

• Colorado State High School Powerlifting Championships (Saturday);
• North American Powerlifting Federation Pro Invitational Benchpress Championships (Saturday);
• Rocky Mountain Lifting Club Powerlifting Championships – sanctioned by USA Powerlifting (Sunday);
• “Survival of the Fittest” CrossFit Competition, hosted by Devil Dogg CrossFit (Friday – Sunday).

“USA Weightlifting is thrilled to hold our 2014 National Junior Championships in Aurora this year,” said USAW CEO Michael Massik. “These young athletes work so hard and are truly an inspiration to all athletes and aspiring Olympic qualifiers.”

Admission for the Aurora Sports Festival is $8 daily for adults, or $20 for a three-day admission ticket. Kids ages 12 and under are free.

For more information on Aurora, upcoming events or meeting facilities, visit www.VisitAurora.com or call 303-326-8698.

Jennifer “Jen” Wiard, longtime Elway’s Cherry Creek director of sales (and wife of Elway’s culinary director Tyler Wiard), was just named general manager of Elway’s Cherry Creek by Tim Schmidt, co-owner of the restaurant along with Broncos great and Hall of Famer John Elway.

Yay, Jen! You go!

Eavesdropping on a ‘tween conversation on Twitter: “That’s far away.”

“How far?”

“Like, outside of Boulder.”

Future Hall-of-Famer Champ Bailey is the new voice on the underground train that runs from the main concourse to gates A, B and C at Denver International Airport.

I guess Peyton Manning was that voice over the holidays (thank goodness I didn’t have to make an airport run during that time), but Bailey’s voice has taken over for the Broncos QB.

“I like to invite all of our great fans across the nation to unite in orange as we prepare to take on the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl,” Bailey says in the recording.

Listen to the full audio below, courtesy of DIA.

http://blogs.denverpost.com/broncos/2014/01/25/champ-bailey-new-voice-denver-international-airport-trains/25760/.

Champ Bailey records his message that train riders hear at Denver International Airport. (DIA Facebook page photo)

Jewish Family Service of Colorado welcomes Archie Manning, football star and legend in life, as the speaker for its 10th annual JFS Executive Luncheon fundraiser on April 30.

The luncheon will be held at the Grand Hyatt Denver, 1750 Welton Street. Doors open at 11:30 a.m., and the program will start at noon. Tickets are $150 and sponsorship packages start at $1,500. For more information or for tickets, contact Dawn Richard at 720-248-4605 or go to www.jewishfamilyservice.org/luncheon.

All proceeds from the event will help support programs of JFS, including mental health counseling, senior and adult in-home care, disability and employment services, and family safety net services. Founded in Denver in 1872, JFS is a nonprofit community agency serving people regardless of age, race, faith, or income.

When people think of Archie Manning, football immediately comes to mind. But Manning has inspired many with his warm personality, humor, drive, and commitment to family and community.

Manning and his wife, Olivia, have three sons, Cooper, Peyton and Eli. Archie and Olivia raised their sons with the philosophy that, “It’s the right thing to do, so do the right thing.” The result, which Archie and Denver Broncos’ quarterback Peyton capture so clearly, is a tribute to the values that Americans hold dear: work hard, stand up for what you believe in, treat each person with respect, and be grateful for what you have and for what you have achieved.

A former Pro Bowl quarterback and NFL MVP, Manning enjoyed a fabled football career, beginning at the University of Mississippi where he was named an All-American and is the only Ole Miss player to have his number retired.  He was elected to the 50-Year All-South Team (1940-90), named one of the Top 25 Athletes of the Century in Louisiana, and he and his son, Peyton, were named among the 100 all-time greatest college football players.

In 1971, Manning was the second player chosen in the NFL draft and the No. 1 draft choice of the New Orleans Saints. He set Saints’ passing records, played in two Pro Bowls and was named the NFL Most Valuable Player in 1978. His prowess on the field and his sterling character have earned him as many awards as he scored touchdowns. Archie Manning concluded his 15-year NFL career in 1985.

Manning since has devoted his life to his family and to causes that he believes in, supporting the Special Olympics, Boy Scouts of America, The Salvation Army, and the United Way, among others.

Archie Manning will be the keynote speaker at the 10th annual Jewish Family Service of Colorado Executive Luncheon fundraiser on April 30.

Broncos fans, check out this beautifully written story from my former Denver Post colleague Steve Raabe who writes about a super fan,  Kara Christian, who actually bought a half-page ad in The Denver Post to support her team.

She’s battling breast cancer and I wish her well. Pay no attention to that lousy headline describing her as “cancer-stricken.” So insensitive!

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_24995012/cancer-stricken-fan-shows-passion-denver-broncos-newspaper.

The half-page ad Kara “The Bronco Lady” Christian took out to celebrate her Denver Broncos in Saturday’s Denver Post.