GRANTS, NM – Ty Detmer, who is a former quarterback in the NFL for the Philadelphia Eagles, the San Francisco 49ers, the Detroit Lions, and a few others, has been contributing to the Grants/Milan area for 20 years now. This weekend Detmer will be in town doing a few events, including a dinner and golf outing to help fundraise for the Rotary Club’s Backpack Program and to celebrate the 20-year anniversary.
Detmer first got involved with the Grants/Milan area 20years ago through Stacey Corley. Detmer and Corley both played football together at BYU from 1987 to 1991. 20 years ago, Corley asked Detmer for help with fundraising with the youth football league here in Grants and Milan. Detmer stated, “He asked me if he could use my name to bring interest with fundraising.” Since then, Detmer has come to the Grants/Milan area every year in the first week in June to continue contributing and fundraising.
Detmer first began contributing and helping fundraise for the football league, but eventually this branched out to sports camps outside of just football, scholarships and now the Rotary Club’s Backpack program. Detmer stated “Early on we provided eight to 12 scholarships for kids to build knowledge and go get an education… The backpack program is a big benefit and I am happy to support it.” When asked if he expected to be contributing to the area for 20-years Detmer stated, “At first it started year to year, but eventually every year I looked forward to the first week in June, to hang out with Stacey and his family and to help support them and the whole community.”
When asked why charity is important to him and more specifically why this area is important to him Detmer stated, “I have grown to love the people, I’ve met all the people there and it’s such a close-knit community, I just love the people.” Detmer also stated “I want the people to continue what they have been doing, keeping and supporting sports programs for kids to participate in and enjoy.”
Detmer also spoke about future plans, “As time evolves and needs arise, we will morph to the needs of the community.” He also spoke about what he wants the community to know, “I hope people are aware of the work others are doing, and I hope people will continue to show support to the kids.”
The Backpacks for Kids Program, in its eighth year of existence, provides children living in poverty and attending local elementary schools with a bag of kid-friendly food to take home on Fridays during the school year. It provides food to children ages five to 12. Backpack food programs provide nutritious, nonperishable, easy-to-prepare food to children to ensure they get enough food on weekends and holidays to avoid hunger when they can’t depend on school meals.
All events will take place this weekend starting on Friday and ending on Saturday. Friday, June 2 is the Ty Detmer Dinner at La Ventana Steakhouse from 6 to 9 p.m. On Saturday June 3 is both the Cornhole tournament at Coyote Del Malpais Golf Course starting at 9 a.m., and the Ty Detmer Golf Outing at Coyote Del Malpais Golf Course starting at 1 p.m.
If you are interested in attending any of the events or donating to the backpack program, please contact Eileen Yarborough at 817-564-3884 or visit the website https://www.redboltbroadband. com/rotary. 100% of proceeds go to the Grants/Milan Rotary backpack program.