FORT MYERS, Fla. (Jan. 17, 2023)—The Tommy Bohanon Foundation supports local youth on and off of the playing field, and thanks to the generous support of the Southwest Florida community, the non-profit raised over $220,000 for local families and children in need in 2022. The Southwest Florida non-profit expanded its efforts this year, helping fund community rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Ian.
Every dollar donated to the Tommy Bohanon Foundation goes directly to local Southwest Florida schools, children, and families. Last year, the foundation hosted several fundraising events to benefit local at-risk youth, including the annual Playmaker’s Tailgate Party and Softball Tournament. In addition to its fundraising efforts, the foundation offers workshops, camps, and events for local adolescents, including the highly anticipated Tommy Bohanon Youth Football Camp.
“Thanks to our generous donors in 2022, our community is coming back stronger than ever,” said former NFL player Tommy Bohanon. “Our donors are truly the ones who make positive change possible. We are so proud to help make a difference in the lives of hundreds of children and families through our annual programming, and this year with the assistance we’ve been able to provide after Hurricane Ian. We could not have done it without the support of each and every one of our incredible partners, donors, and volunteers.”
During the annual Playmakers Tailgate Party in mid-June, $10,000 scholarships were awarded to three high school seniors, Jackson Shinneman, Patti Patricca, and Natalie Stafford, to help them achieve success in continued education. The event surpassed its fundraising goal by raising approximately $131,000 with the help of local business leaders.
Weeks later, the foundation doubled the number of attendees at their annual Football Camp with approximately 200 local youth participating. These young athletes did more than perform NFL-style drills, they spent the entire day forming relationships with mentors and fellow students, gaining professional insight and networking skills from community leaders, and learning the value of hard work. Tommy Bohannon Foundation workshops help students build their self-confidence and improve their chances for success as they begin to transition into the working world.
In 2022, the Tommy Bohanon Foundation also dispersed $42,000 through its Sports Equipment Grant to six Southwest Florida high schools: Island Coast, Oasis, North Fort Myers, Riverdale, Mariner, and Dunbar. The grants were used to purchase athletic program necessities such as new uniforms, equipment, and more for each school’s sports program of choice.
The Tommy Bohanon Foundation also raised money for locals impacted by Hurricane Ian. Traveling to highly-impacted areas to donate supplies, clothes, and other necessities, the foundation provided further support with additional fundraising to help ease the burden of financial challenges some families face during the holidays.
Thousands of toys and donations were collected for the annual 3-in-1 holiday fundraiser, which included its Softball Tournament, Toy Drive, and Hurricane Ian Drive. The event included activities and fun for all ages, such as crafts, bounce houses, food trucks, and raffles. A generous anonymous donation of $25,000 was made to the foundation, collecting a total of more than $38,000 for the Holiday Fundraiser.
“2022 was filled with challenges and wins, and we can’t thank everyone enough for their support and for helping us to carry out our mission,” said Katie Bohanon. “With such rapid growth from when we began in 2017, we are excited to have a positive impact on even more children and families in 2023. You all inspire us to do better each day, and we look forward to serving our phenomenal Southwest Florida community for another year.”
The Tommy Bohanon Foundation is a nonprofit organization working to ensure that every child can achieve their goals on and off of the field. These programs, like everything at the foundation, are done with the hope and intention of making a positive impact on at-risk children’s future and the community. To learn more about the organization’s mission, or how you can help, please visit www.tommybohanonfoundation.org
Tommy Bohanon Foundation
The Tommy Bohanon Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting young athletes to reach their highest potential on and off the playing field. Former NFL fullback, Tommy Bohanon, returned to his hometown in Southwest Florida to pursue his vision of ending generational poverty for at-risk youth. The foundation funds annual scholarships, sports equipment grants to local high schools, youth football camps, seminars and programs, as well as funding for other local nonprofits. For more information about the Tommy Bohanon Foundation, visit TommyBohanonFoundation.org or call 239-671-0441.
