NFL Alumni Annual Banquet and Golf Classic Raised More than $285,000 for Abused Children

by Anissa Munoz

May 5, 2015

Read time: 3 minutes

The 13^th annual NFL Alumni Caring for Kids Banquet, sponsored by Lexus of Austin & Lakeway and Golf Classic, presented by KB Home, raised more than $285,000 this year, setting a new record for this two-day charity event. The money raised will help the Center for Child Protection provide forensic interviews, medical exams, counseling and intervention during the investigation and prosecution of child abuse cases.

“The NFL Alumni Caring for Kids Banquet and Golf Classic is such a special event for our donors,” Dean Leipsner, Center for Child Protection board member and Golf chair, said. “The NFL Alumni come out each year and rally behind the Center and partner with our local sponsors to raise awareness on child abuse. We can’t thank them enough for all they do.”

During the banquet, the NFL Alumni – Austin Chapter and Center for Child Protection bestowed the Couple of the Year award to Mary Ann & DeLoss Dodds, retiring University of Texas athletic director and local community advocate. The Longhorn Foundation was created under Dodds’ supervision, and in the 28-year history, more than $370 million has been raised for student-athlete scholarships, academic services, sports medicine, facilities and all other facets of UT Athletics.

The annual banquet also included silent and live auctions, check presentations from KB Home and Lexus of Austin & Lakeway along with a live draft announcement of the NFL Alumni golf team captains for the tournament the following day. Throughout the night, 15 attendees signed up for the Center’s Guardian Angel Society, pledging to make a three-year commitment to the children of Travis County!

The next morning, more than 30 former NFL players including Ed “Too Tall” Jones, Coach Dick Vermeil, Bill Bates, Ty Detmer, and Quan Cosby partnered up with team sponsors to compete for an all-expense paid trip to the NFL Alumni’s 2016 Super Bowl of Golf Tournament. Grand prize at the tournament went to League Kitchen and Tavern, made up of Creed Ford, Cassie Ford, Craig Paschich, Kim Paschich and team captain/NFL Alumni member Lyle Blackwood. The second place team was from Gibson Plumbing, and third place went to Exxon Mobil.

A huge thank you to our event sponsors: Lexus of Austin & Lakeway, KB Home, AW Media and 104.9 The Horn for their help in making this event a success.