|
Former Pirates gather
for Gridiron Classic
From staff reports
©2006 Bonesville.net
For many former athletes, once their playing
days end, so do the charitable foundations they started or the other good
causes they put their names to.
The conclusion might be that regardless of how
worthy the purpose, those athletes lacked true emotional commitment to the
cause once the career was over.
For a pair of former East Carolina football
standouts, staying power is not an issue when the objective is worthwhile.
Troy Smith and Kevin Monroe have already demonstrated that their
undertaking, FUTURE, Inc., was never intended to be a start up and move on
venture.
 |
|
4th
Annual Gridiron Classic
When:
Saturday,
April 8, 6 pm
Where:
Minges Coliseum at ECU
Admission:
General $5
Students $3
Children 5 and under free
Contact:
E-mail
Troy Smith and
Kevin Monroe at:
future_inc06@yahoo.com |
|
|
After four years, FUTURE, Inc., is gaining
momentum and yielding more tangible benefits to targeted youth in their
hometown community, Greenville.
Smith and Monroe hope their signature annual
event, the Gridiron classic, can continue to help drive the organization's
success. This year's Gridiron Classic once again promises to be a fun-filled
occasion where fans can rub elbows with some of ECU's greatest former
athletes, who will be displaying their talents on the hardwood instead of
the turf.
"We think this is going to be the best the
event has been so far,” Monroe said. “We hope everyone will come out and
support the cause."
Among this year’s crop of former stars that
will be supporting and headlining the event are Jacksonville Jaguars
quarterback David Garrard, Atlanta Falcons all-Pro Defensive Lineman Rod
Coleman and former CFL MVP and current Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback
Marcus Crandell.
Also expected to hit the basketball court are
former Miami Dolphins Larry Shannon, Travis Darden and Leonard Henry, and
former Kansas City Chief and current AFL player Norris McCleary.
The Classic will be played in Minges Coliseum
at 6 p.m. on Saturday. Admission is $3 for students with student ID, $5 for
general admission, and free to children age 5 and under. An autograph
session will follow the game.
FUTURE, Inc., is a nonprofit organization
dedicated to providing alternatives for the at-risk youth of the South and
West Greenville communities. The Gridiron Classic is FUTURE’s biggest
fundraiser. Proceeds from this fundraiser and all other FUTURE fundraisers
go directly back into those communities.
This year, the proceeds will be allocated to
financing a tour of Howard University and Washington, DC.
This page updated
02/23/07 11:43 AM.
©2006 All rights rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Staff reports and a news release contributed
to this article.
|
