Grants/ Milan Rotary Club’s All- Star Weekend returns to help feed Hungry Kids
GRANTS, N.M. — Working to feed the hungry kids of Cibola County, the Grants/Milan Rotary Club has an eventful weekend planned.
NFL legend Ty Detmer is coming to Cibola County this weekend — not to play, but to give back. He’ll be joined by an all-star lineup of professional athletes, college coaches, and even a reality television champion for the 22nd Annual DYFL All-Star Weekend, a high-energy fundraiser hosted by the Grants/Milan Rotary Foundation.
The goal of the event is simple and urgent: to raise money for the Rotary’s backpack program, which provides food-filled backpacks to local students who might otherwise go hungry over the weekend.
Cibola is a county where more than 40 percent of students live below the poverty line, organizers say the need for food assistance is urgent.
Friday: Camps and Clinics
The weekend kicks off Friday, June 6, with a series of youth sports clinics and leadership sessions held at Grants High School and other local venues.
Activities begin with volleyball drills led by Jon Gonchar, head coach of the University of New Mexico women’s volleyball team. Older students — grades 8 through 12 — will take the court from 9 to 11 a.m., followed by a lunch break and a second session for younger players in grades 3 through 7 from 12 to 2 p.m.
Basketball fans will have the chance to train with WNBA player DeMya Wheatfall, who will run morning and afternoon camps for girls and boys in grades 3 through 12. Wheatfall, known for her collegiate career at Texas A&M and her professional play overseas, will be joined by Rickey Sullivan and Chance Patterson for the day’s clinics.
Meanwhile, in a nearby gym, Survivor 2024 winner Rachel LaMont will host a motivational workshop titled “The Will to WIN.” LaMont, who became a fan favorite for her resilience and leadership on the show, will speak to students in grades 8 through 12 about mental preparation and the power of perseverance.
Later in the day, former MLB All-Star Dee Gordon will take the field at the Grants High School baseball diamond. Gordon — known for his speed, agility, and standout seasons with the Miami Marlins and Seattle Mariners — will lead a baseball and softball session for high school athletes from 2 to 4 p.m.
Also on Friday afternoon, UNM tennis coach Rob Bareford will conduct a youth tennis camp for students in grades 4 through 8 at the high school tennis courts.
The day concludes with a business casual fundraising dinner at Coyote Del Malpais Golf Course from 5 to 7 p.m. The evening will feature a special guest speaker and a hole-in-one shootout to boost donations.
Saturday: Ty Detmer and Football
Saturday’s schedule shifts the spotlight to football — and to Ty Detmer himself.
Detmer, who won the Heisman Trophy in 1990 as quarterback at BYU and went on to play for several NFL teams including the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers, will lead a quarterback camp for students in grades 9 through 12 from 9 to 10 a.m. at Grants High School.
Following the camp, a combine-style workout will be held from 10 to 11:45 a.m. for all students in grades 4 through 12.
Joining Detmer on the field will be three other professional football players: Rodney Rice, a defensive back who played for Virginia Tech and signed with the Denver Broncos; Jeff Badet, a speedy wide receiver who has spent time with the Minnesota Vikings, Washington Commanders, and the XFL’s Vegas Vipers; Bene Benwikere, a former Carolina Panthers cornerback known for his standout rookie season and stints with multiple NFL teams.
An autograph session with all four athletes will follow immediately after the morning’s events at the Grants High School Football Field.
The weekend will wrap up with a golf tournament at Coyote Del Malpais beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday, with dinner at the clubhouse to follow.
Supporting Cibola’s Hungry Students
The DYFL All-Star Weekend has become a cherished annual tradition in Cibola County and has for years helped fund the Backpack Program.
All proceeds will support the Rotary’s weekend Backpack Program, which discreetly provides students with nutritious meals to take home on Fridays. For many local families, this program is the difference between hunger and hope.
The Grants/Milan Rotary Foundation is encouraging the public to participate in the festivities or contribute to the cause.