Irrelevant Week names charity

Irrelevant Week, Inc., which celebrates the last player chosen in the NFL Draft every year in Newport Beach, has named Special Olympics Southern California as this year’s charitable recipient.

“Through the power of sports, Special Olympics transforms the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities,” Irrelevant Week chairperson Jerry McGee said in a press release.

Irrelevant Week, Inc. said it has donated more than $1 million to charities in Southern California in the last 37 years.

Paul Salata, who played for the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Colts, said he founded Irrelevant Week to do something nice for someone for no reason and to celebrate the underdog.

The Indianapolis Colts have the 254th pick, the last one, in this year’s NFL Draft on April 25-27 in New York. Salata will make the announcement of Mr. Irrelevant at the draft’s conclusion.

“Our Special Olympics athletes are overcoming challenges day in and day out, not only in the game of life, but on the playing field as well,” said Bill Shumard, the president and chief executive officer of Special Olympics Southern California, in a press release.

Irrelevant Week, Inc. said it raises money for charitable purposes from events associated with recognizing and celebrating the achievements of Mr. Irrelevant.

“We are extremely excited to make this partnership,” Shumard said. “We tip our hats to this event, as we all know sport is a universal language. Athletes of all abilities can speak it.”

— From staff reports