There are certain moments that define a city.
For Pittsburgh, hosting the NFL Draft is one of them.
And right now, with just 22 days to go, the energy is building in a way that only this city can create, equal parts excitement, pride, and preparation.
Behind the scenes, though, it is something else entirely.
It is long days. Late nights. Constant movement.
It is what we call controlled chaos, and it is exactly where great events are built.
At Valiant 3 Communications, we are right in the middle of it as we prepare to kick off Draft Week in Pittsburgh with an event that is about far more than football.
Kicking Off Draft Week: Inside the Draft
On Wednesday, April 22, 2026, we will welcome guests into the iconic PPG Wintergarden for:
Inside the Draft: Community on the Clock
From 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM, this event will bring together NFL legends, business leaders, community partners, and supporters for an evening that blends access, insight, and impact.
Guests can expect:
- A cocktail reception and elevated networking experience
- A Chalk Talk conversation featuring Jerome Bettis and Walter Payton Man of the Year Award recipients, presented by Nationwide
- A live auction, award presentation, and check presentation
- A high energy, immersive environment that sets the tone for Draft Weekend
This is more than an event. It is the opening moment of one of the biggest sports weekends Pittsburgh has ever hosted.
Why This Moment Matters
Pittsburgh is a football city, but more importantly, it is a community city.
Hosting the NFL Draft is a national spotlight moment. What makes it meaningful is how that spotlight is used.
This event was designed with that in mind.
While the world focuses on draft picks and projections, we are focused on something bigger.
Creating real impact in the communities that make this city what it is.
The Mission Behind the Night
All proceeds from the evening will benefit:
- The Jerome Bettis Bus Stops Here Foundation
- Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania
With a specific focus on the expansion of the Jerome Bettis CyberBus initiative.
The CyberBus is a mobile, technology driven classroom delivering:
- STEM and computer science education
- Digital literacy and AI exposure
- Workforce readiness programming
Directly into underserved communities across Western Pennsylvania.
Through this partnership, the CyberBus is actively reaching youth across the region, meeting them where they are and equipping them for where they are going.
This is the kind of work that turns moments into movement.
The Reality Behind the Scenes
At 22 days out, the work looks different than it did months ago.
This is where everything tightens.
Talent is being finalized.
Schedules are shifting.
Sponsors are activating.
Run of show is being refined down to the minute.
Every detail matters.
Because the goal is simple.
When guests walk in, it should feel effortless, even though we know how much went into making it that way.
The Power of the Right Room
What makes this event special is not just the programming, it is the people in the room.
When you bring together:
- NFL legends and Walter Payton Man of the Year honorees
- Corporate partners and decision makers
- Community leaders and nonprofit organizations
- Supporters who believe in the mission
You create something bigger than an event.
You create alignment.
And that is where real opportunity lives.
Recognizing Our Sponsors
Events like this do not happen without the right partners.
We are incredibly grateful to the sponsors who have stepped up, not just to support an event, but to invest in impact across Pittsburgh.
Thank you to:
Lucy Fato
Redzone Robotics
Tull Family Foundation
Morgan Stanley
Citrone 33 Foundation
M&A Resources
Modern Edge Sports and Orthopedic Medicine
Eat N Park
CNX
Confluence
Data Fusion
ALCOSAN
Rivers Casino
Garnet Bridge
Parry Custom Homes
McDonald’s
Nationwide
Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick and Raspanti, LLP
Levels Wealth
TriState Capital Bank
Shrager Defense Attorneys
Collectively, these partners have contributed more than $215,000 in support of this event and its mission.
More importantly, they are helping drive forward:
- Access to education
- Opportunity for youth
- Long term impact in our communities
In just a few short weeks, Pittsburgh will take center stage.
The NFL Draft will bring national attention, energy, and excitement to the city.
But before that happens, we will set the tone.
We will bring the right people together.
We will tell the right story.
We will make sure the impact starts before the first pick is even announced.
22 Days Out
The countdown is on.
The details are being finalized.
The momentum is building.
Because when it is all said and done, this will not just be about hosting the Draft.
It will be about how Pittsburgh showed up for it.