As Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning aims for his second Super Bowl ring on Sunday, the folks at Mercy Health Partners want him to know they’ll be rooting for him.
To show their support, Mercy employees gathered Monday for a photograph that will be used as part of a good luck ad for Manning.
“We want to recognize everything Peyton has done for us. We’re sending him a good luck card that will include many of our employees. From one super team to another,” Mercy spokesman Craig Griffith said.
Manning has appeared in a number of television commercials advertising everything from credit cards to sports drinks but his role as pitchman began in East Tennessee and continues today with Mercy Health Partners.
The 34-year-old former University of Tennessee football standout teamed with St. Mary’s Health System for the first television ad in 1999 after he had an orthopedic procedure performed at St. Mary’s.
Manning paired with the now-retired nun Sister of Mercy’s Maris Stella Morgan in some of the early ads in the series.
Manning has continued his relationship with the health system, which merged with Baptist Health System of East Tennessee in January 2009 to form Mercy Health Partners.
Manning earns no income from Mercy. In lieu of endorsement pay, the health system makes a contribution to Manning’s foundation.
In June, he’ll return to Knoxville to shoot a new commercial and hold his annual charity golf tournament for the health system.
© Copyright 2007, E.W. Scripps Co.. Displayed by permission. All rights reserved.
