Who says the mistakes (in question) of others can't also be beneficial to the masses? In Pittsburgh, PA what started out as a joke, amounted to $20,000 that will go toward utility assistance for 65 local families.

Candy maker Bill Sarris, of Sarris Candies, created a slightly deflated looking chocolate football to poke fun at the New England Patriots team, which is undergoing investigation by the NFL for using footballs that were under the proper air limit during the AFC Championship game.

"Net weight 13 lbs.... Oops! We meant 11.2 lbs," reads the photo caption on Sarris Candies' Facebook page. The chocolate football was molded with a dent to make it appear deflated. It was also named the "Bradie Ball" - another poke at Patriots' quarterback Tom Brady.

The charity responsible for this utility assistance is called The Dollar Energy Fund, for whose benefit the 2.5 pound chocolate football was auctioned off on KDKA radio station and purchased by a Ford auto dealership for $5,000 - well above the $500 asking price.

The chocolate football maker, Mr. Bill Sarris, matched the winning bid to total $10,000, and partners of The Dollar Energy Fund then doubled the amount for a total of $20,000.

"What started out as an internal little joke ended up picking up momentum and excitement," said Sarris to ABC6 News. "It's going to a good cause, so that's the best thing."

Sarris also awarded two regular-looking chocolate footballs, and two chocolate helmets to winning bidder and owner of Shults Ford in Pittsburgh, Richard Bazzy. You can see photos of the chocolate football and helmets here.

Bazzy, tickled that his team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, are big rivals of the Patriots, commented "It doesn't get any better when you can poke fun at an AFC rival while knowing that you are also helping families in need. We expect to display the football in one of our dealerships with pride."

Photo: "ready to play" by frankieleon is licensed under CC BY 2.0 / cropped from original

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Ashleigh Rader

Content Developer at Chocolate University Online

All her life, Ashleigh has enjoyed, indulged in, and spread the gift of chocolate. She says, "life's too short to skip dessert." Ashleigh joined CUO to help share on our blog and social networks more about the wonders of chocolate.

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