The MetLife Foundation is giving away $500,000 to four charities early next year.
But first the philanthropic arm of the New York-based insurance giant wants the public to help it choose which charities get the greatest share of the money.
At Sunday's football game between the New York Jets and Houston Texans, MetLife rolled out an online poll through which people can vote on this week.
Those participating can pick the Alzheimer's Association; Food Bank For New York City, Jumpstart for Young Children, which provides mentoring and tutoring to children; and KaBOOM!, which builds playgrounds and open spaces.
"We just think it's important for people to get involved in giving,"
said Eric Goldberg, director of corporate social responsibility at the foundation.
At Sunday's game, MetLife representatives lured fans with free gifts - Jets magnets for the fridge, hand warmers and a Jets banner - to try the online poll at a few computer terminals near the MetLife gate at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford.
Shortly before the game, the Alzheimer's Association and Jumpstart for Young Children were in the lead. But Jumpstart had pulled ahead by early Sunday evening, with about 50 percent of respondents choosing it.
The winning charity will get $175,000 of the $500,000; with $125,000 going to the charity in second place and $100,000 to each of the remaining two.
Rodney Foster of The Bronx chose the Alzheimer's charity. He hopes funding for research would help lessen the burden of a disease from which someone in his family has suffered.
"It's realty difficult,"
he said of Alzheimer's. "It's challenging to deal with."
Fans attending the Thursday Jets game or Sunday's Giants game can also vote at the stadium. The online poll - available at www.metlife.com/thanksgiving - is available though Sunday. Results are to be announced the following Monday.
