• Chicago Tribune, Friday, January 7, 2011 10:30 AM

A Kraft spokesperson says the company saw a YouTube video about Ted Williams, panhandling on the streets of Columbus, Ohio, and spoke with its ad agency about working the guy into the company's Fight Hunger Bowl campaign.

The bowl, involving Nevada against Boston College, airs Sunday at 8 p.m. on ESPN and ends a charitable program in which Kraft donated nearly 21 million meals to food banks.

Williams recorded voice-overs for four commercials after his "Today" show appearance on Thursday. Additionally, he was hired by MSNBC to provide promotional voice-overs and was offered a job by the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers.

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