DelGrosso Foods, Franco Harris Introduce IMMACULATE MARINARA
TIPTON, PA, October 5, 2022 – DelGrosso Foods Inc., America’s oldest major family-owned producer of pasta sauce, is teaming up with NFL legend Franco Harris to mark the 50th anniversary of the “Immaculate Reception,” voted the No. 1 play in NFL history in multiple polls and surveys. Franco’s Immaculate Marinara is a special-edition label from DelGrosso Foods, prominently displaying the NFL Hall of Famer’s image on the jar and calling out the product’s charitable focus of “50 cents per jar to charity.” Franco’s Immaculate Marinara is expected to be available for a limited time at select retailers in central and western Pennsylvania later this fall.
The Immaculate Reception occurred during the December 23, 1972 Super Bowl playoff game, at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, against the Oakland Raiders. It has been widely recognized as the most memorable play in football history. On a fourth down with just 22 seconds to play, the Steelers attempted a final, game-saving pass from quarterback Terry Bradshaw, which was deflected, and would have ended Pittsburgh’s Super Bowl hopes. However, from seemingly out of nowhere, rookie running back Franco Harris scooped up the ball just before it could hit the ground and ran for a game-winning touchdown.
Franco Harris, the son of an Italian-born mother and African American father, developed a fan base with the nickname “Franco’s Italian Army.” The young running back developed a relationship with the DelGrosso family in the 1970s, and even starred in a TV commercial, alongside his mother, promoting DelGrosso pasta sauce. The Harris-DelGrosso friendship has remained for nearly five decades, so when Franco approached the DelGrosso family with the idea to raise money for Pittsburgh charities coinciding with the 50th year of the Immaculate Reception, the DelGrosso’s were all in.
Joe DelGrosso, CEO of DelGrosso Foods, says “Franco’s idea was to do something special for the anniversary of the Immaculate Reception that would benefit his community. The Immaculate Marinara is the result of that endeavor, and to celebrate 50 years, we are donating 50 cents of each jar sold to Pittsburgh-based charities that Franco has designated, including the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor. We think this will be a collector’s item for many Steelers fans, and we are honored to be part of it.”
Harris appreciates the opportunity to use the occasion to benefit the community, saying “It’s great to take an event that’s significant to the Steelers community and use it to raise money for organizations doing good and important work. With a great sauce, a worthy cause, and an anniversary celebration, we have all the right ingredients.”
The Pittsburgh Steelers recently announced that they will retire Harris’ No. 32 jersey during a halftime ceremony at the December 24th primetime game vs. the Las Vegas Raiders. The Steelers will wear a commemorative Immaculate Reception patch on their team jerseys to honor the 50th anniversary of the event.
Although specific retailers have yet to be named, DelGrosso Foods expects that the Immaculate Marinara will most likely be available at grocers located in areas of Pennsylvania with the highest concentration of Steelers fans.
