5th Annual NFL Alumni YMCA Draft Party Funds Scholarships For Young Athletes
DETROIT (WWJ) - You can rub elbows with some of Detroit's biggest sports celebrities for a great cause this Friday night in Royal Oak.
The 5th Annual NFL Alumni YMCA Draft Party raises money for thr NFL Alumni Detroit Chapter's Student Athlete Scholarship Fund and the Metro Detroit YMCA.
Live in the WWJ Newsradio 950 studio with Jackie Paige Wednesday morning, former Detroit Lions Safety Ron Rice talked about how the whole thing came about.
"We started it obviously five years ago...Scott Hankins, Reggie Lee, and myself — we kinda came together and said, you know, let's do some good," Rice said.
"Me being a former NFL player, and with the NFL Alumni Association, we have a scholarship fund; and Reggie and Scott's ties to the YMCA and the Strong Kids campaign, we thought it was a great union to get together, call our friends up, call people in the community, a lot of celebs from radio, TV, and sports, and raise some money..."
Funds raised will go to help young athletes pursue a higher education.
"So, kids that either want to pursue athletics in college that didn't get financial aid athletically, or they just want to go to school," Rice explained.
"But or application process, they have to have participated in interscholastic sports to be eligible... and meet the criteria as far as ACT/SAT scores, grade point average, write a beautiful essay, get a letter of recommendation, you know, and just have the will, drive and desire to be successful in the future."
The event takes place Friday, May 9, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Emagine Theatre, Royal Oak. Tickets are $100 and include drinks and appetizers.
