Miami Dolphins Celebrate Alumni Weekend Through Community Impact
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October 13, 2016
Miami Dolphins Celebrate Alumni Weekend Through Community Impact
Miami – The Miami Dolphins will celebrate Alumni Weekend Oct. 21-23, 2016 by honoring former members of the organization who have dedicated their service to helping those in our community.
The Dolphins have a large alumni base throughout South Florida, and the organization will tip its hat during the weekend to those whose contributions have raised nearly half a billion dollars and contributed nearly 200,000 hours in service to causes that benefit the community.
“These men have taken their platform in sports and used it to elevate the lives of those in need,” Miami Dolphins Senior Vice President of Alumni Relations Nat Moore said. “The Dolphins have a legacy that runs deep in this community and we’re honored to have alumni who strive to make South Florida a better place to live and continue their legacy of being community stewards through their service.”
The former members of the organization being honored are Dick Anderson, Kim Bokamper, Bob Brudzinski, Nick Buoniconti, Vernon Carey, Chris Chambers, Jeff Dellenbach, Troy Drayton, Oronde Gadsden, Bob Griese, Larry Little, Sam Madison, Jim Mandich, Dan Marino, Stockar McDougle, O.J. McDuffie, Don McNeal, Nat Moore, John Offerdahl, Adewale Ogunleye, Lousaka Polite, James Pruitt, Twan Russell, Don Shula, Dwight Stephenson and Don Strock.
The alumni will be recognized and honored at a gathering Friday evening at the Alumni Weekend Celebrity Draw Party presented by TD Bank at Hard Rock Stadium. On Saturday, alumni will participate in the Alumni Weekend Golf Classic Luncheon Presented by MIK Construction followed by the Golf Classic Presented by Waste Management with Haggar Clothing Co., The Official Sponsor of the Alumni Weekend Golf Classic Putting Green. The Oct. 23 Buffalo Bills vs. Miami Dolphins game presented by AARP Foundation will commence with a tailgate for alumni to gather and mingle. The Alumni Weekend Home Game Honorary Captains presented by Haggar Clothing Co. will be on the field for the coin toss before alumni are honored at halftime.
Dick Anderson – Miami Dade Parks – Miami Dade Parks creates recreational, natural and cultural experiences to enrich and enhance the quality of life for the Miami-Dade community for this and future generations.
Kim Bokamper – Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center – Sylvester seeks to reduce the human burden from cancer and other serious illnesses through research, education, prevention and the delivery of quality patient care.
Bob Brudzinski – Bru’s Buddies – Bru’s Buddies provides college scholarships and help originations that exhibit good sportsmanship, academic excellence and community spirit.
Nick Buoniconti – The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis – The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis is the world’s most comprehensive spinal cord injury research center.
Vernon Carey – Vernon Carey Foundation – The Vernon Carey Foundation creates programs and provides support to encourage the improvement of youth as well as enhance educational and recreational development and economic opportunities within the community.
Chris Chambers – Catch84 Foundation – Catch84 values the importance of shaping the lives of children during their formative years so that each child develops aspirations for their very own American dream through academic achievement, positive social skills development, stimulating individual creativity, promoting team unity and attaining healthy lifestyles.
Jeff Dellenbach – Dellenbach Foundation – The Dellenbach Foundations focuses on providing funds, volunteer services and supplies for severely ill and injured children as well as to veterans and their families with an emphasis on areas where other assistance is unavailable or insufficient.
Troy Drayton – Alzheimer’s Family Center – Alzheimer’s Family Center is dedicated to improving the lives of families affected by Alzheimer’s Disease and other memory disorders.
Oronde Gadsden – NextLevel Charities – NextLevel Charities serves underprivileged and disadvantaged youths to achieve success in athletics and academics.
Bob Griese – Judi’s House – Judi’s House has helped more than 8,000 young kids get through the grief of losing a parent or loved one.
Larry Little – Larry Little Legends Golf Classic – The Larry Little Legends Golf Classic motivates and develops youth through support in education, sports and community service.
Sam Madison – Madison Avenue 4 Kids – Madison Avenue 4 Kids is a non-profit organization that was formed to motivate and inspire at-risk youth and their families to achieve a better way of life through educational, social and economic empowerment.
Jim Mandich – Dolphins Cancer Challenge – Improving people’s lives through the financial support of innovative cancer research at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Dan Marino – Dan Marino Foundation – The Dan Marino Foundation empowers individuals with Autism and other developmental disabilities. The Dan Marino Foundation has created unique and impactful initiatives in the community, including first-of-their-kind initiatives like the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Dan Marino Outpatient Center with 50,000 visits annually, the Marino Autism Research Institute studying quality of life research, Marino Adapted Aquatics a state program for prevention of drowning, Summer STEPS Employment Programs, Virtual Interactive Training Agent Program (ViTA DMF), and now post-secondary programs at both Marino Campus in Broward and at FIU for students ages 18 to 30 with autism and other developmental disabilities.
Stockar McDougle – The McDougle Family Foundation – The McDougle Family Foundation mission is to build a team of role models and mentors that will bring stability to today’s youth and tomorrow’s leaders by tutoring, mentoring and encouraging our youth to stay focused on their health, social skills and academics, while exposing them to appropriate career paths, higher education and healthy lifestyles.
O.J. McDuffie – Catch 81 Foundation – The O.J. McDuffie Catch 81 Foundation is committed to support South Florida’s youth through a series of special fundraising events that benefit various organizations and other non-profits that aid in the support of at-risk children.
Don McNeal – MS Views and News – MS Views and News is dedicated to the global collection and distribution of information concerning Multiple Sclerosis by providing education, advocacy and service to empower and enhance the quality of life of the MS community.
Nat Moore – The Nat Moore Foundation – The Nat Moore Foundation helps kids help themselves through scholarships and educational growth. Since 1998, the Nat Moore Foundation has distributed more than $2 million to various youth and social service organizations, helping over 100 of South Florida high school graduates achieve their dreams of higher education as well as provide support services to hundreds of children and youth’s through academic, fitness and life-skills programs.
John Offerdahl – Offerdahl’s Hand-Off Foundation – Offerdahl’s Hand-Off Foundation assists to feed the needs of those in crisis by partnering with business, government, civic and faith-based organizations as well as hosting the Gridiron Grill-Off Food & Wine Festival. Launched Home Team Advantage® Restorative Housing in 2016 for the benefit of vulnerable families seeking relational restoration and homeownership.
Adewale Ogunleye – Goal Power Program – The Goal Power Program is an active participant in the community exposing students to different careers and education.
Lousaka Polite – The Polite Way Foundation – The Polite Way empowers single moms to obtain education success and achieve economic self-sufficiency through empowerment skills, financial literacy, support services and leadership.
James Pruitt – iCare Foundation – The iCare Foundation protects, provides and empowers individuals to lead productive lives through mentoring and educating at-risk youth to become impactful and productive citizens in society. The foundation provides academic scholarships and computers for high school seniors.
Twan Russell – The Russell Education Foundation – The Russell Education Foundation inspires and equips underserved children and their families with the tools for continued success. The foundation’s afterschool programs exponentially improve student’s chances of graduating from high school, attending college and joining the workforce.
Don Shula – Shula Fund at Moffitt Cancer Center – The Shula Fund supports the Moffitt Cancer Center, raising funds for breast cancer care and research to improve the cancer patient outcomes throughout Florida and beyond.
Dwight Stephenson – Dwight Stephenson Foundation – The Dwight Stephenson Foundation combines the sports and business communities in an effort to generate increased funding for charities that provide educational, health and human services to support the needs of children and families.
Don Strock – Diabetes Research Institute Foundation – The Diabetes Research Institute continues to make significant contributions to the field of diabetes research – thanks to the steady stream of support provided by the Don Strock Diabetes Golf Classic, which has been hosted for 34 years and always benefits the institute.
Jason Taylor – Jason Taylor Foundation – The Jason Taylor Foundation supports and creates programs that facilitate the personal growth and empowerment of South Florida’s children in need by focusing on improved health care, education and quality of life.
Shawn Wooden – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County provides children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better.
