The BIG33 Partnership
On July 23, 2004 Nicole was honored with the ACE Award @ the BIG 33 dinner in Hershey PA. This award stands for A – Athletics, C – Courage, and E – Excellence in Academics and is given in honor of Adam Talifero, the Penn State football player who overcame adversity after being paralyzed in the Ohio State game.
Mickey Minnich, the Executive Director of the BIG 33, notified Mike Schneider, the athletic director of Northampton High School, Nicole had passed away the day before.
The evening was filled with very special speakers: Matt Millen from the Detroit Lions, Lynn Swann, the great wide receiver of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Hall of Famer and Joe Paterno, head coach of Penn State. The BIG 33 is much more than a game. The mission of the BIG 33 Scholarship Foundation is to produce the premier high school all-star football game in the United States that is much more than a game, that showcases and develops excellence in students and the community, and raises funds for academic scholarships and other charitable activities. During the week of the game, players and cheerleaders participate in the BIG 33 Buddy Program, visit Hospitals and Children Homes, FCA Fellowship Breakfast, youth football and cheerleading clinics, and the Operation Can Hunger Annual Food Drive. For more information, go to www.big33.org.
Mike Schneider, athletic director from Northampton, Deb Anthony, Nicole’s field hockey coach, Sue Carlson, Nicole’s guidance counselor and home bound teacher, and Cheryl Wochiki, a close friend of the family, attended the dinner as guests of Doug and Linda. Doug and Linda watched the short presentation that was shown to the crowd and then received the ACE Award in Nicole’s honor. Doug addressed the crowd of 1600 with a speech that was put together from journals that Nicole had written. The $1,000.00 Scholarship in Nicole’s name was given back to the BIG 33 and a nursing scholarship in Nicole’s name will be given in her high school.
Since that night, great things have happen. Doug and Linda met with Mickey Minnich and have created a partnership between the two foundations. As of December 2004, the Angel34 Foundation has contributed $7,000.00 to the BIG 33 Scholarship program and in return will receive $16,000.00 in nursing scholarships to be given out to local high school seniors in the Lehigh Valley. This is part of the Nicole’s wishes to have scholarships for students going into the medical arts field. There are other things in the works that will have the number 34 as part of the game each year and hopefully have ICEE machines at the game.
Nicole has opened many of doors for her foundation and we have met many wonderful people. Thank you Mickey Minnich and the BIG 33 for helping a young lady meet her goal. The BIG 33 plus one special young lady make a great team (34). See Keith Groller’s Article on the dinner. Thanks, Keith for your help.
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