Posts Tagged ‘NFL’
RUEGY’S READERS ROLLS INTO VEGAS, BABY!
Take one NFL vet dedicated to seeing kids enriched by books. Add an amazing go-getter spouse who puts the Energizer Bunny to humiliating shame. Sprinkle in a hefty network of friends, family and teammates whose support has them traveling from all over the country. Blend in generous amounts of donations, volunteer time, and corporate sponsorships. Mix thoroughly, bake on high for three days in a scintillating desert environment, and whaddaya got? The 3rd Annual Ruegy’s Readers Bowling For Books.
The NFL invades the Suncoast Casino's Bowling Alley
A couple of months ago we interviewed Grey Ruegamer about his charitable foundation, Ruegy’s Readers, (RR), which supports library programs for elementary school children. Fast-forward to the last weekend in April, as the organization’s annual fundraising shindig descends upon Grey’s hometown of Las Vegas.
The festivities kicked off on Thursday evening with a private party at New York New York Hotel’s uber-hip nightclub, ROK Vegas. In the lowlit, high energy ambiance, images of Grey hanging with kids from the RR program and some awesome gridiron shots flashed across the 360-degree screen high above the crowd to classic rock tunes. Paying tribute to the RR cause were roving models fully decked out in colorful storybook character costumes. (I actually bumped into Snow White, Goldilocks, Little Red Riding Hood, the Big Bad Wolf, and Scheherazade).
Snow White waits for her prince
Friday saw the group gather at the main venue for the weekend, the Suncoast Casino. A luau-themed pool party made for a fun and relaxing time for players and friends to bag some rays and catch up on each other’s lives before Saturday’s bowling bash.
Volunteers sport some Super Bowl bling
By: LBC on May 7th, 2009, 2 Comments »
IDONIJE AND OGUNLEYE GIVE GIFT THAT’S ALL HEART
A few months back we posted a story about Israel “Izzy” Idonije, defensive tackle for the Chicago Bears, about the awesome work he does through his charitable foundation. The benevolent six-foot-sixster is at it again, with a life-saving gesture to a child in need.
Just after mini-camp in March, Idonije and fellow NFLers Adewale (”Wale”) Ogunleye and Tommie Harris (Bears), Amobi Okoye and Xavier Abidi (Houston Texans), Osi Umenyiora (NY Giants), and Nnamdi Asomugha (Oakland Raiders) embarked upon a nine-day mission trip to Nigeria. While there, Idonije and Ogunleye heard about a four-year-old who was in need of life-saving surgery; the little girl had been born with a hole in her heart.
The Heart Gift Foundation, an Austin, Texas-based organization that provides free surgery to correct life-threatening heart defects for children from all over the world, had agreed to donate the surgery. The remaining challenge–getting the girl and her mother to Texas. The family had been trying to raise the funds for airfare (Lagos, Nigeria to Austin, TX…not exactly an inexpensive flight). But as the surgery date of April 13th drew near, it didn’t look like the monies would be raised, and the procedure was almost canceled. Enter: Idonije and Ogunleye, who picked up the tab and split the cost of the tickets so mother and daughter could make the trip.
Adewale Ogunleye with some very excited fans
Hugbacker caught up with Izzy this weekend for a quick chat. “They were having difficulty raising the funds to buy the two tickets,” he told us. “During our second medical clinic the mother and the young girl were there and the situation was brought to [Wale's and my] attention. Doing the little we could was a no-brainer.”
By: LBC on April 12th, 2009, No Comments »
Lorenzo Alexander & Friends Throw Strikes For ACES
One of our favorite Hugbackers, Lorenzo Alexander of the Washington Redskins, is at it again…stepping up and giving back to the community where he grew up. We last visited the defensive tackle at his “Hold The Line” football camp last June; this time we caught up with him as he rallied support for his ACES Foundation with a Celebrity Bowling Party fundraiser, held last weekend at Albany Bowl in the San Francisco East Bay.
PHOTO: Lisa Cecconi
Food, drinks, good cheer, bowling balls hurled at crashing speeds…all were part of the fun on a rainy Sunday as a lively crowd gathered to support ACES, Lorenzo’s charitable organization, which provides enrichment programs for local youth. We were able to chat with the host just before the party started; not an easy feat, as Lorenzo is one of the most hands-on leaders of a pro athlete’s foundation we’ve ever seen…arriving early, setting up, making sure everyone is having fun…the man seemed to be everywhere at once.
HB: Lorenzo!
LA: Hey, glad you could make it.
HB: My pleasure. Quite a different venue this time. What made you pick bowling for an event?
LA: It’s just a really fun way to gather people together. Everyone can have a good time for a good cause…and there’s no way we could get rained out. This obviously wouldn’t have worked today if I’d scheduled a golf tournament!
GREY RUEGAMER: MAKING A BIGTIME PLAY IN KIDS’ LIVES…”ONE BOOK AT A TIME”
Two-time Super Bowl champ. Book lover. Perennial prankster. Hard worker. Born educator… All solid descriptors for 10-year NFL vet Grey Ruegamer, who has blended a passion for reading, a concern for the effectiveness of elementary school education, and a forward-thinking spirit to create “Ruegy’s Readers,” a program which provides funding and support of public and private elementary school libraries, emphasizing “the significance of reading as a lifelong skill.”
Grey blocking for QB Eli Manning
PHOTO: Grey & Laurie Ruegamer
Chatting on the phone with Grey Ruegamer, it felt more like he and I were having a beer at a neighborhood bar–rather than the latter sitting in San Francisco with a laptop and the former driving around Southern California on errands. With his trademark laid-back-yet-mischievous energy, Grey filled Hugbacker in on how he and wife Laurie created Ruegy’s Readers to make a difference for elementary school children–both in his former team city of Green Bay and his hometown of Las Vegas.
Despite admittedly struggling in school early on, his athletic talent, love of sports and nose-to-the-grindstone work ethic had Grey flourishing at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, where he triple-lettered in football, track & field, and wrestling, going undefeated as a heavyweight wrestler in his senior year. From there he went on to Arizona State University on a full athletic scholarship, starting all four years on the Sun Devils’ offensive line.
Just as he’s known for keeping the locker room loose, the 6′5″, 299-pound, much-loved offensive lineman kept our conversation the same.
HB: [Hearing the beeping of his car starting] Do you want to get situated and get your bluetooth hooked up?
GR: Nah, I’m just gonna go phone-straight-to-the-ear. I’ve got Nevada plates and I’ll probably take some back streets, so we’re good.
JAMES JONES: The Receiver Is A Giver
Giving back to children in need is often the result of imagining the obstacles and challenges they face. Green Bay Packer James Jones doesn’t have to imagine–he’s been there. Growing up in homeless shelters for most of his childhood, obstacles and challenges were a way of life. Now, with his LOVE JONES 4 KIDS FOUNDATION, Jones reaches out to kids in similar situations in his native San Jose, CA and in Green Bay, WI.
PHOTO: Getty
Speaking with James Jones, it was, frankly, hard to believe the man isn’t even 25 years old. The air of wisdom about him makes you feel you’re talking to someone who’s lived, well, a few more years. Our conversation was akin to getting a much-needed shot in the arm; one of inspiration, rejuvenation, reality, and hope…quadruple whammy! Now Jones is on a mission to share the story of his childhood struggle–and subsequent triumph–with kids, up close and personal. Serving as the basis for the Love Jones 4 Kids Foundation, his account leaves no room for doubt about the power of determination and the capacity of dreams.
Check out the video, then click below to keep reading about James and his amazing road from growing up in homeless shelters, to receiving a full athletic scholarship to San Jose State University, to achieving his unwavering goal of playing in the NFL.
By: LBC on January 31st, 2009, 1 Comment »
Answer to TUESDAY TRIVIA
The answer to this Tuesday’s triva question is: ROBERTO GARZA, offensive lineman for the Chicago Bears. His hometown of Rio Hondo, TX, celebrates an official Roberto Garza Day every December 2nd. And yes, there’s a Roberto Garza Drive…the street where his parents live!
Garza hangs with kids at a local Chicago school
PHOTO: Chicago Bears
A big priority for Garza is helping to spread awareness of diabetes to the Hispanic community. He’s done a variety of print, radio, and television public service announcements for organizations such as the American Diabetes Association, the League of United Latin American Citizens, and America’s Health Insurance Plans, as part of a bilingual diabetes education campaign. He and his wife Ashley are also huge supporters of the United Way.
During the season, Roberto tapes weekly television segments for a Telemundo program called Yarda Por Yarda, where he explains the basics of football to the Spanish-speaking audience.
Hugbacker met up with Roberto last summer at the Bears’ training camp, when he took time to chat with us about the importance of educating the Latino community about a healthy diet. “I understand them. I grew up eating the same heavy foods, and lived the same lifestyle. I can relate.”
Roberto, whose own charity group is called Los Amigos de Roberto, was also honored in 2006 as the Bears’ nominee for the Walter Payton Award. Check out the latest news at his official website. And another fun piece of news from last fall: our favorite #63 also made the cover (below) of Madden ‘09 NFL En Espanol. Way to go, Roberto!
PHOTO: EA Sports
