Last modified: Tuesday, December 12, 2006 12:19 AM EST Carrie O'Donnell, guest speaker at the Troy Brown Celebrity Bingo event, holds her son Brady, 3, who was treated at Childrens Hospital, while thanking Patriots wide receiver Troy Brown for his support of the hospital on Monday night at Gillette Stadium. (Staff photo by Keith Nordstrom) From pigskin to bingo balls By JANETTE SEARS Sun Chronicle Staff FOXBORO - The game of bingo took on a whole new meaning Monday evening, allowing about 700 people to get up close and personal with members of the New England Patriots in the Fidelity Investments Clubhouse at Gillette Stadium. The event was the Troy Brown Celebrity Bingo through which Brown, with the support of his fellow Patriots and other sports figures, hoped to raise a lot of money for charity. "We are hoping to raise as much money as possible," said Kirsten Durocher, marketing assistant for Celebrity Marketing Inc., which organized the event. "No commitment has been made as of yet in terms of what we're going to give, but with 700 people, between the live auction and the silent auction and some awesome items, including a Super Bowl trip and an autographed Red Auerbach piece, we're hoping to make a lot of money and be able to give it to Children's Hospital and Celebrities for Charity," she said. Brown's teammates, backup quarterback Matt Cassel, tight end Benjamin Watson, defensive lineman Richard Seymour, offensive lineman Billy Yates, and linebackers Tully Banta-Cain and Rosevelt Colvin came out to play a little bingo and show their support for Children's Hospital Boston. While waiting to play bingo with Brown and the other players, those in attendance enjoyed a buffet dinner and perused numerous live and silent auction items, including highly valued sports memorabilia, from an autographed Troy Brown Patriots jersey to an autographed football by Patriots quarterbacks Tom Brady, Vinny Testaverde and Matt Cassel. The sports items ranged from baseball to golf, and participants enjoyed a brief chat here and there with their sports idols as well. The evening also included a speech from guest speaker Carrie O'Donnell whose appropriately named three-year-old son, Brady, was treated at Children's Hospital for a rare disease shortly after he was born. All the events were a good sight to see, according to Troy Brown. "I feel great about it," Brown said of the large attendance. "Most of it's partly because of me and partly because they can win $10,000 and partly because they want to give back to Children's Hospital and give back to their community. It's a good time for them. They get to come out and raise money for a good organization and good charities and still get to come out and have a good time and mingle with some of the Patriots players at the same time." It was also a good opportunity for Brown to do something he finds very rewarding. "I have been very lucky to have such a long career in the NFL and especially with the Patriots organization," Brown said. "There are so many people and charities out there that I am happy to do whatever I can to raise money and give exposure to a cause. I am happy to give back to a community that has always been so supportive of me." Janette Sears can be reached by phone or fax at 508-222-2442 or by e-mail at janette@janettesears.com.