Big Whit 77 Foundation Raises Over $101,000 During 2nd Annual Big Whit Weekend

Co-founders of the Big Whit 77 Foundation, Cincinnati Bengal Andrew Whitworth and former Miss Louisiana Melissa Clark Whitworth, announced today the Foundation raised over $101,000 at the conclusion of this weekend’s 2nd Annual Big Whit Weekend presented by First National Bank.

During a Leadership Conference held on Saturday, the Foundation gave $25,000 in scholarships and free laptops to 25 scholarship recipients from Ouachita and Lincoln Parishes dubbed “Whit’s Warriors.” The 2010 Whit’s Warriors are:

West Monroe High School: Taylor Ainsworth, Kirstie Anyan, Kaitlyn Beaird, Jeremiah Butcher, Laundi Freeman, Alexandra Johnson, Christian Lewis, Mallory Sanaie, Thomas Rick Sanders, Katelyn Von Diezelski and Jessica Walters
Sterlington High School: Laquinten Allen and Jana Robinson
Cedar Creek High School: Logan Blackwell
Ruston High School: Raine Blunk, Mary Carwile, Lauren Fuller, Sarah Jones and Joseph Siegmund
River Oaks High School: Rachel Causey and Miriam Henry
West Ouachita High School: Amber Cook
Richwood High School: Racheal Reed
St. Fredrick High School: Taylor Crousilac and Alexis Guice

The criteria to be selected as a Whit’s Warrior included a minimum 3.0 GPA, campus and community leadership, athletic or arts participation an a willingness to pursue higher education. “Our goal is to continue growing the scholarship program each year to eventually reach even more kids in the community that possess the special leadership quality that sets them apart from their peers,” Melissa Whitworth said. Proceeds from the Big Whit Weekend also benefitted Broaden Horizons, a faith-based after school program for at-risk youth. Andrew Whitworth said of the program, “Broaden Horizons fits right in line with our mission as they focus on intellectual and spiritual growth of children and teenagers.”

On Sunday, guests had “An Evening with Big Whit” at Squire Creek Country Club in Choudrant where they mingled with Whitworth and 19 of his fellow Bengal teammates including Carson Palmer, Keith Rivers, Matt Jones, Chase Coffman, Chris Crocker, Brian Leonard, Chinedum Ndukwe, Bobbie Williams, Kyle Cook, Morgan Trent, Jordan Palmer, Nate Livings, Anthony Collins, Domato Peko, Dan Coats, Bennie Brazell and Eric Ball (former player – director of player development). Whitworth also offered his vision for the future of the Foundation, which includes, in addition to the Whit’s Warriors Scholarship Fund, “Care for the Cure”, a program that will directly assist families who have children with life-threatening diseases. The goal of “Care for the Cure” is to lighten the financial burden on families who are paying for expensive health-care treatments for their child. A third program, dubbed “Open Arms” will reach out to families who dream of adopting a child but don’t have the financial means to do so. The Foundation will partner with the Methodist Children’s Home in Ruston and the Baptist Children’s Home in Monroe to help those children find a loving family. Melissa Whitworth explains that the plans are in place to launch both the “Care for the Cure” and “Open Arms” initiatives in 2011.

Finally, on Monday, players teed it up with Whitworth and his NFL teammates to compete for glory and prizes in a four-man golf scramble.  “Last year we raised over $60,000 that went back into our community and our goal was to break $100,000 this year and we were able to do it thanks to our sponsors and supporters,” Melissa Whitworth said. Andrew Whitworth believes his hometown is a special place. “It’s very important for us to be in West Monroe. There are many kids in our community that can reach their potential when they have someone to believe in them and help their parents with the resources needed to continue on their path. I want to do anything I can do to help,” he concluded.

The Big Whit 77 Foundation is a non-profit 501 3 C organization. The Foundation’s Board of Directors includes: Co-Founder Andrew Whitworth, Co-Founder Melissa Whitworth, President Rick Guillot, Vice President Shelley Clark, Treasurer Barbara Williams, Secretary Kirk Frantom and members Royce Toney, Nicole Zordan and Kenny Guillot. Sponsors of the Big Whit 77 Foundation’s Big Whit Weekend were First National Bank, Ouachita Independent Bank, WPS Industries, First Baptist Church-West Monroe, Twin City Electric, Bancorp South, Herringstone’s, Portico, the Jake Owen Raborn Foundation, Miss Louisiana Organization, Randall McDonald, Eddie McDonald Landscaping, KNOE 8 News, Opus Broadcasting, Louisiana Plastics, Merrill Lynch, George Griggs, Hill Oil Company, Creed & Creed, Mark Parish, Bon Chasse Properties, Inc., Dr. Chico Rosales, Dr. Tommy Lolley, Squire Creek, Steve Davison, Dr. Ed Johnson and McIntyre & Associates, Inc.

For more information about the Big Whit 77 Foundation, visit www.bigwhit77.com or call 318-396-4094.