RSS FeedDungy Endowed Chair Dinner & Auction 2006
Football coaches lend support to Dungy endowed chair
Jackson Community College welcomed three head coaches of the NFL, including Indianapolis Colts Coach Tony Dungy, to raise funds for the Dr. Wilbur L. Dungy Endowed Chair in Science. The evening brought in just under $60,000 for the endowment.
Dr. Wilbur L. Dungy was the father of Tony Dungy and a former science faculty member at JCC, the first African-American professor the College employed. He taught for 16 years at JCC.
Top items in the silent auction were an NFL Experience package to a Colts game including tickets, sideline passes and a meeting with Dungy that went for $2,200; a Barry Sanders autographed Detroit Lions jersey that went for $1,500; and a football signed by Tony Dungy and Colts quarterback Peyton Manning that went for $1,400.
For this special event, Tony Dungy was joined by Detroit Lions Coach Rod Marinelli and Chicago Bears Coach Lovie Smith in a dinner and silent auction. Marinelli and Smith were part of Dungy's staff when he coached the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Both Marinelli and Smith knew Dungy's father and had fond memories of him.
"When I think of Mr. Dungy two words come to mind: consistency and support," Marinelli said. "I remember getting off a plane from Denver after losing a game, and he was the first person I saw. He was always around. It was like he was part of the coaching staff."
"It was always good to see him (Dr. Dungy) there, no matter what was going on," Smith said. "Mr. Dungy was a big Michigan fan, and I used to coach at Ohio State, so we would go round and round each year about the time of the game."
In memory of Dr. Wilbur Dungy's dedication to education, the Dungy family -- Tony, Lauren Dungy-Poythress, Linden Dungy and Sherrilyn Sims -- and related donors have contributed $250,000 toward a $1 million goal for the Dr. Wilbur L. Dungy Endowed Chair. It will provide a faculty member with resources for professional development, purchase of equipment, promotional development, and development of a conference or similar educational opportunity for students.
"I can't tell you how grateful I am to be here and to have all of you here," Tony told the crowd. "My father's passion was education, and his passion was with Jackson Community College. He liked it because it was an open-door college. If you wanted to come and learn, you could come and learn."
Tony has taken his father's passion for education into his coaching, believing that his job is to help every player play the best they can. "You win with people, not just with talent or with X's and O's. You need to get people to believe in what you are doing."
The evening was a rousing success, a time for commemorating Dr. Dungy's commitment to education, and also an opportunity for those in attendance to ask questions of their favorite NFL coaches. The Dungy family and event organizers were pleased.
"The results of the fundraiser/auction exceeded our expectations," said Cindy Allen, executive director of community relations and the performing arts at JCC. "The guests, our three NFL coaches, excellent food, great sports memorabilia for the auction and the financial support we received by many individuals and local businesses, made for a magical evening.
"This is a great tribute to the Dungy Family in honor of their father, Wilbur, and their dedication to supporting education at Jackson Community College."
