The Arizona Cardinals Foundation exists for one purpose: to serve the special needs community in the State of Arizona. It partners with other charitable organizations such as SARRC, Treasure House Phoenix, Special Olympics Arizona, and Barrow Neurological Foundation.
This charity is funded and operated through the Cardinals NFL club. Funding will support bold, innovative programs that bring long-term impact to individuals and families navigating life with special needs.
RELATED: STORY OF HOW THE BIDWILLS BECAME OWNERS
Michael Bidwill is the owner of the Cardinals. His family has owned the team since Charlie “Blue shirt” Bidwill bought the club in 1932. Michael is one of five children who own 100% of the club without any public or private equity minority shares. He is listed as the principal owner, chairman, and president.
Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill (L) of the Arizona Cardinals talks with Raiders owner Mark Davis (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) Getty Images
As the owner of one of 32 NFL teams, there is a natural progression into setting up philanthropic branches whose primary function is to help the less fortunate and needy. The team’s foundation is just one of many methods the franchise uses.
LINK: ARIZONA CARDINALS FOUNDATION
But not everything is set in stone. The team does quite a bit for small organizations, such as high schools, in order to assist with needs.
Not all of their responses and charitable commitments are covered in the media. Like this story.
Every NFL team stays at a certain hotel at home the night before the game. This was invented by Cleveland Browns head coach Paul Brown in the 1940s. He didn’t want his players out late carousing or having sex with their wives the night before, and tiring them out.
While on the road, certain hotels are booked for the visitors and book quite a few rooms. This not only includes players and coaches, but trainers, front office staff, equipment personnel, and whoever else they want to bring. Including the owner.
Most of the hotels have suites, bridal suites, and presidential suites, which are much larger than normal rooms. They cost more, too.
Westin Jersey City Newport Hotel
In the New York City area, the Cardinals stay at the Westin Jersey City Newport Hotel on Washington Blvd. in Jersey City, New Jersey. MetLife Stadium is just a stone’s throw away and home to the New York Football Giants and New York Jets, which ride along the Hudson River for fantastic waterfront views.
This year, in addition to playing every team in the NFC West twice, this division will compete against every club in the NFC Eastern Division. This includes an away game at MetLife Stadium on October 4 against the Football Giants in Week 4.
Like most little girls, Olivia Coppeletti of New Jersey had most of her desires planned out for her wedding. The right photographer, plenty of additions/subtractions for the invitations. The correct caterer and reception venue.
And, she booked all of this at the Westin Jersey City Newport Hotel in Jersey City months before the 2026 NFL schedule was revealed. Including the presidential suite, which was deemed ideal for getting hair and makeup done with her bridesmaids before the ceremony.
Westin Hotel, partial view of the Presidential Suite
Once it became known as to the Cardinals’ home and away schedule, the franchise books all of its venues for the season to make certain they have a comfortable place to stay before the game. Then, teams check out on gameday morning, players shower in the visitor’s facility, then take a bus to the airport and fly home the same day.
A certain number of rooms are booked by the Cardinals’ staff. Including, yeah. The presidential suite. This one room is the largest and most luxurious in the entire hotel, and is booked for the team owners. Which, in this case, is Michael Bidwill.
Coppeletti was suddenly frantic. All of the other rooms she wanted weren’t an issue, but the presidential suite? That was suddenly a speed bump in her wedding plans.
She sent an email to the new head coach, Mike LaFleur, whom she assumed the room was rented for. Part of the email was:
“I am a bride who has exhausted all conventional options and who had my heart set on renting the suite for months.”
Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill speaks with former Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Which all meant she had booked this special room way before the Cardinals made their reservations. But a hotel is in business to sell rooms. Arizona not only will book many, many rooms, but will be back every time they play the Jets or Giants. The Westin isn’t going to mess that up, no matter what the event is.
More of Coppeletti’s email:
“In other words, Coach, you have unknowingly become the final obstacle standing between me and my dream wedding suite. Therefore, I am respectfully submitting what may be the most ridiculous request you receive all season: If you are not planning to use that suite on Sunday, October 4, would you consider letting a desperate bride have a chance to book it?”
She had no clue that the suite was reserved for the boss. Does the owner go to every away game? Certainly, it is standard to book so many rooms, plus the best suite – or suites – for the ownership.
Coppeletti posted her plight on TikTok:
“What do you do when the Presidential Suite you’ve wanted for 10+ months gets booked by the Arizona Cardinals because they play the Giants the weekend of your wedding? You shoot your shot …”
Then, she also posted her entire email to LaFleur with the subject line “A Completely Unreasonable Request from an October ’26 Bride (for Coach Mike LaFleur).”
So, LaFleur passed the email along for someone to address. Eventually, that person was Bidwill. He sent a video to the bride-to-be:
“Your email, which I absolutely loved, made its way to me. I looked into it. The situation is a little complicated. The suite you requested wasn’t reserved for the coach of the Cardinals but rather the owner of the Cardinals. The good news is that’s me, and I’m happy to give it up to you and your bridesmaids to use during your wedding weekend. Congrats and enjoy your special day.”
A bride’s special day was saved. Bidwill demonstrated true empathy.
Coppeletti stated that she understood that an NFL game holds more weight than her wedding morning. She offered Bidwill:
“My eternal gratitude, the satisfaction of making one bride’s year (and) an open invitation to stop by my wedding venue, “Batello,” after the game for a celebratory drink (or several) if you happen to find yourself across the street.”
Which might become a celebration of the union between two people in love, and a Cardinals victory.