Fourth annual Farrior Foundation fundraising weekend set
By: Paul Woody
Published: June 08, 2011
Updated: June 08, 2011 - 12:26 AM

The fourth annual James Farrior Foundation celebrity fundraising gathering is scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The Farrior Foundation was founded by James Farrior, a 14-year NFL veteran and owner of two Super Bowl rings as a linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and his brother Matt.

This year's events include Bowling with the Stars, a celebrity softball game against members of the Richmond police department and the Celebrity Golf Classic.

The bowling event, which will be held at Bowl America-Short Pump on Friday at 5:30 p.m., and golf outing, at Hunting Hawk in Glen Allen on Sunday at 11 a.m., are open for public participation.

Advance registration for both events is required and can be done at www.jamesfarriorfoundation.org.

The registration fee to bowl two games, plus take part in a social hour beforehand with current and former Pittsburgh Steelers, then team up with a celebrity guest, is $175.

The registration fee for the golf event, which also will feature current and former Steelers and an awards banquet, is $300 per person or $1,000 for a foursome.

The softball game will be held Saturday at The Diamond at 11:30 a.m. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children under the age of 12.

All proceeds go to the James Farrior Foundation. Farrior is a graduate of Matoaca High School and the University of Virginia.

The Farriors refined the foundation's focus.

It will continue such charitable activities as Coats at Christmas, Tackling Justice and the Farrior 51 Bone Marrow Registry Drive.

But a major part of the foundation's efforts will focus on underserved and at-risk young people.

JFF plans to establish sustainable programs that have a long-term impact on the academic and professional skills, health, athletic and cultural development of those children.

Richmond Times Dispatch – article dated May 5, 2010, Staff Reporter,
Archives Sports C-2

“Fundraiser features NFL players”

Three Events will help foundation of Matoaca grad James Farrior.

Members of the Pittsburgh Steelers and other NFL players will be in Richmond during May 14 – 16 to support the third annual James Farrior Foundation “Tackling Everyday Life” Celebrity Weekend. 

James Farrior, a Matoaca High School graduate and two-time Pro Bowl champion, is a middle linebacker and captain of the Steelers’ defense.

About 20 Steelers and current and former NFL players are expected to participate.  Included are James Harrison, Jerome Bettis, Heath Miller, Willie Parker, and Darren and Jamie Sharper, both of whom graduated from Hermitage High School.  Player appearances are subject to change.

The fundraiser for the foundation begins May 14 with a poker / casino night at the Westin Hotel.  Registration begins at 5 p.m., doors open at 6, and poker begins at 7:30.

A softball game to be held at The Diamond on May 15, NFL and local celebrities will take on the Richmond City Police Department.  There will be a home run exhibition prior to the game.  An autograph session will be held after the game.  Gates open at 11 a.m. for the 1 p.m. game. 

On May 16, a celebrity golf tournament will be held at Hunting Hawk Golf Club in Glen Allen.  The event includes putting, long drive, straightest drive, and two closest to the pin contests, and there will be two holes with a prize for a hole in one.  Awards will be given to teams finishing first, second, and third.  Registration begins at 10 a.m. with a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m.  An awards banquet  will be held following the tournament.

Tickets and registration for all events is available at www.jamesfarriorfoundation.org.

The foundation focuses on youth in the Richmond and Pittsburgh areas and provides mentoring, activities, camps, and scholarships.

The Farriors’ big weekend

Former Matoaca High School and University of Virginia standout James Farrior believes strongly in giving back to the community and offers this simple message through his foundation: "Help others defy all adversities and overcome obstacles."

In a continuing effort to promote this ideal, The James Farrior Foundation will host its second Tackling Everyday Life weekend June 12-14.

Three events - a casino night that offers a $10,000 grand prize, a golf tournament and bowling - highlight the weekend, and participants can look forward to seeing as many as 30 NFL players and Iron City stars Jerome Bettis, Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward.

"I'm just looking forward to a laid-back weekend, having a lot of fun, and hopefully, we'll raise a lot of money for my foundation," Farrior said.

Established in June 2007 by the Pittsburgh Steelers all-pro linebacker and his brother, Matt, the JFF gives underprivileged youths the opportunity to rub elbows with professional athletes and participate in events that Matt says promote morale and awareness.

"We are here to help try to keep these kids involved," Matt said. "I know that some of these kids don't have the means. While us, being a positive resource . . . we can try and lend our hand out a little bit more."

Students from throughout the Richmond area were chosen to participate in the Tackling Everyday Life weekend based on success in the classroom.

"It's a great opportunity to reward kids for being positive all year," Matt said.

Those students will participate in a teen summit, where they will have the opportunity to ask James and Steelers coach Mike Tomlin questions "pertaining to football, life, whatever is on their mind" before the party moves to the first of three scheduled weekend events.

Those who wish to play in Saturday's golf tournament at Hunting Hawk Golf Club will have the opportunity to bid on their celebrity teammates at a silent auction during Friday's poker tournament.

Also Friday, Richmond Mayor C. Dwight Jones is scheduled to present James Farrior with the key to the city at the Arthur Ashe Center at 4:30 p.m. in a free event that is open to the public.

"I am very honored to accept the key to the city," James said. "It's a good thing for me . . . and hopefully, I'll be able to reach out to the younger generation, the kids in the Richmond area, and show those guys how we [the James Farrior Foundation] do things."