Bohanon Foundation provides grant to Dunbar High for new football uniforms
The Tommy Bohanon Founda-tion has helped athletes and athletic programs get the funding they need, and they don’t have to come from North Fort Myers to earn them.
Just ask the football players at Dunbar High School.
The foundation, founded by Green Bay Packers fullback Tommy Bohanon and his wife Katie, has awarded the school’s football team a nearly $5,000 equipment grant to ensure every player on the varsity team has new uniforms for the season.
Katie said the grant got rolling when Tommy’s old high school teammate, Zack Lepaugh, now freshman head coach at Dunbar, reached out to each other.
“We got connected through the Pick Up the Ball event we did together. We got to know the kids and heard about what they struggle with and how the school needs new uniforms,” Katie said.
The money went for the entire team to get black home jerseys and white for on the road. The team wasn’t going to see them until Thursday night’s game at Lehigh as a surprise, Katie said.
“It’s always nice to go out in style with new, shiny uniforms. It makes you feel more like a team,” Katie said. “We’re looking to help everyone in Southwest Florida.”
“It’s something that’s really cool for us to do. It’s not just about North Fort Myers, it’s about all of Lee County and Southwest Florida,” said Tommy, who is looking to make the Packers squad this season. “We’re trying to help out all the kids and do what we can to help uplift these kids.”
Having played the game. Tommy knows what it means to get new uniforms and how it can fire up a team, especially if they don’t see it coming.
“It’s the old adage ‘Look Goof, Feel Good Play Good.’ If it helps these kids in any way that’s what we’re all about,” Bohanon said. “Maybe they can get to the next level as well.”
North Fort Myers High School was also awarded a grant, which they used for equipment and blocking dummies, Katie said.
The Bohanons graduated from North Fort Myers High School and recently hosted the Tommy Bohanon Youth Football Camp there in June. They also awarded $10,000 in scholarships to local high school athletes who are now attending state universities.
The Tommy Bohanon Foundation, founded in 2017, has been building the organization to achieve its mission to support young athletes to reach their highest potential on and off the playing field.
The goal of the equipment grant is to relieve financial burdens on not only athletes but also on athletic programs. The Tommy Bohanon Foundation will be awarding equipment grants throughout the year as well as scholarships through the Tommy Bohanon Scholarship Fund.
This year they plan to award $15,000 in scholarships, $10,000 in sports equipment grants, and continue to provide the Tommy Bohanon Youth Football Camp for FREE for all participants.
To learn more about how you can get involved with the Tommy Bohanon Foundation visit tommybohanonfoundation.org.