In August, I kicked off my new role working with the Wuerffel Foundation, named for and inspired by Heisman Trophy winner and College Football Hall of Famer, Danny Wuerffel. Danny is a Florida Gator great and outstanding humanitarian, and I was so fortunate to connect with him and his team through my previous job working at the University of Florida!
The Wuerffel Foundation aims to inspire greater service and unity in the world. Through the pillars of excellence, service, and humility, our team hosts signature events, facilities fundraising efforts, and develops future nonprofit leaders to achieve the mission. This fully-remote position provides a tremendous amount of flexibility for me personally and professionally.
In September, we hosted the second-annual PickleBowl, a celebrity pro-am pickleball tournament that pairs pickleball professionals with celebrities from their same college to compete for their alma mater. As someone who had only touched a pickleball paddle once, I had a lot to learn quickly to successfully facilitate this event!!! From team pairings and scheduling to scorekeeping and tournament flow to sponsorships and ticket sales, it was exciting seeing the competition come to life in Atlanta. As the fastest growing sport in America, I am excited to see the PickleBowl continue flourishing!
Shortly after, it was time to hit the ground running on the 13th annual Desire Cup, a rivalry golf tournament and gala leading up to the infamous Florida Georgia football game. This exciting event benefits Desire Street Ministries, an organization also led by Danny that aims to revitalize neighborhoods through equipping and encouraging urban community leaders. Seeing Gators and Dawgs come together for a worthy cause and play some golf at the iconic TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra, FL was incredible! I’ve been playing golf with my dad since I was a young girl, so it was surreal playing here. I also got to connect with sports broadcasting icon, Laura Rutledge, who emceed our gala.
From the announcement of the watchlist in August to the reveal of the winner in December to the upcoming celebration in a few weeks, being an integral part of the selection process for the Wuerffel Trophy has been one of my favorite parts of my job. The Wuerffel Trophy is awarded to the college football player who best exemplifies outstanding community service, which is something that is near to my heart.
Through collaboration with conference reps and sports information directors on each campus, I am so proud to say that more than 100 athletes at more than 100 colleges and universities were nominated for this prestigious recognition. The pool was narrowed to 8 then 3 then 1. Our recipient was announced on the Home Depot College Football Awards Show through our partnership with the National College Football Awards Association, and for the first time ever, we will celebrate the eight All Service Team members at the College Football Hall of Fame for the Wuerffel Trophy Presentation Gala!
As I celebrate my six month anniversary in my role, I am grateful for the opportunities to make impact for those around me. I have met some of the most extraordinary individuals over the past half year, and I am looking forward to continue seeking growth in this job!
