Fresh off pledging $800 to Peyton Manning's charity for each time he uttered "Omaha" in the AFC Championship Game, the Omaha Chamber Of Commerce says it will now donate $1,500 for each time he yells the word during the Super Bowl.
The Nebraska city's business arm says a total of 15 local businesses are part of the donation, including CenturyLink, Mutual of Omaha, First National Bank of Omaha, Omaha Steaks, Omaha Storm Chasers, Omaha Box Company, DJ's Dugout, Union Pacific, ConAgra Foods, Cox Communications, Brix, HDR, Northstar Financial, One Transcription Services and Oriental Trading.
Eight of the businesses ponied up $24,800 as a result of Manning calling out "Omaha" 31 times at the line of scrimmage against the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.
The money will go to the quarterback's "Peyback Foundation," which supports disadvantaged children. In 2012, the last year in which the charity's filings are public, the Peyback Foundation raised $1.6 million and donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to youth organizations in Indiana, Tennessee and Louisiana.
A Chamber of Commerce official says the organization has not yet officially donated the money already earned by Manning in the playoff game.
Meanwhile, the word has gained new life. eCreamery in Omaha is now serving an "Omaha! Omaha" flavor which features orange vanilla and blue malt balls, and the Denver International Airport has put an exclamation point on signage detailing flights to and from the city.