Like the football season, our rhythm of events and fundraisers at the Wuerffel Foundation reflects that of our favorite sport that our namesake cemented his legacy through. From July 2024 – February 2025, our schedule has been jam-packed with programs to advance the mission of inspiring greater service and unity in the world. If you missed my recap of first fall with this team, check out my first post before continuing. Now, let’s dive into my second season at the Wuerffel Foundation!
SEC Media Days – Dallas, TX
One of the most exciting parts of 2024 was debuting our new partnership with Allstate! For its 20th anniversary year, the Wuerffel Trophy combined with the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team to become the premier award for community service in college football. Allstate is one of the largest sponsors of college football, and it is so exciting to be aligned with such a philanthropic organization. We were able to travel to Dallas in partnership with Allstate, the AFCA, and the SEC to announce the record breaking nominee list for the year! 111 D1 student athletes were nominated by their university for this prestigious award, including a perfect nomination total for the Southeastern Conference. Being a part of every detail of merging these programs was no easy task with so many details to align so quickly, but this team came together and nailed it.
Desire Cup Golf Tournament + Gala – Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
The 14th annual rivalry for a cause golf tournament benefiting Desire Street Ministries was a success! From welcoming greats from Florida and Georgia to a meaningful gala showcasing the work of DSM to a perfect day of golf, we raised money for under resourced neighborhoods across the southeast. A big emphasis of our event was the idea of using your social capital – read more about this Desire Street philosophy here. Also, this was the first time my boyfriend Leo was able to come to one of my work events because of his schedule on a Broadway tour, and it was so special having him there!
SEC Nation – Gainesville, FL + Jacksonville, FL
There is a lot of synergy between my primary role at the Wuerffel Foundation and my additional role at SEC Nation, and it was a blast having Danny on the show TWICE this fall! All three Heisman Trophy winners from Florida joined us on SEC Nation Week 1, and Danny chatted with Marty and McGee during the Florida Georgia show after the Desire Cup. It is amazing to see the SEC Network continue to shine light on the great things that former players are doing!
Heisman Trophy Presentation + PickleBowl: Heisman Edition – New York, NY
Another highlight of the year was launching a pickleball partnership with the Heisman Trophy Trust! Former Heisman winners joined us during the Heisman Weekend in New York for a pickleball showcase with our partners at Life Time at PENN1. It was amazing to see how players from Tim Tebow to Cam Newton to Johnny Rodgers and more (including Danny Wuerffel of course!) have translated their competitive and athletic spirits from the football field to the pickleball court. After the event, our team and our Wuerffel Trophy recipient, Nick Dawkins, attended the live show that night. This was a bucket list item in the making, and I am very grateful. It was also my first weekend spent in New York since I moved here, so it was special to spend it at such an iconic NY night!
Allstate Sugar Bowl – New Orleans, LA
Celebrating the best servant leaders in college football didn’t stop after the regular season! We joined the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team in New Orleans for an incredible service project and brunch. Hearing the stories firsthand of these amazing college football players who have committed themselves to service and impact was an experience I won’t forget. Heartbreaking tragedy broke out as a terrorist attack took place just down the street from our hotel on Bourbon Street on New Year’s Eve during our stay. We weren’t able to go to the football game because of it, but seeing the resilience of the Allstate team and the city of New Orleans reaffirmed our belief in our partnership. After not making it in person to see my Ole Miss Rebels play in the Sugar Bowl twice so far in my fandom of the team, it has been high on the list of games I want to see, and now it still is. I will be back, NOLA!!!
Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Presentation Gala – Atlanta, GA
There isn’t a weekend quite like the Wuerffel Weekend in Atlanta! Bringing our 19 past recipients back together and welcoming our 20th recipient into the Wuerffel Trophy brotherhood really warmed my heart. Hosting part of our gala is always a blast for me; I have been able to interview past recipients and other influential members of the Wuerffel Trophy family about their experiences the past two years. Presenting Nick Dawkins of Penn State with the Wuerffel Trophy and a $25,000 gift from Allstate to the Dawkins Family Foundation was the highlight of the weekend. Nick shines so bright on and off the field!
It has been a busy year, and I am thankful for all of the people who made this a successful one. I look forward to continuing this mission of inspiring greater service and unity in the world!
