Provide a Ride 

 

Do you know about Gridiron Heroes?  If not, as a football official, you should.  Click HERE to learn about the history and mission of Gridiron Heroes.  Over the last several years it seems that at many coaches’ conventions the TASO booth is located next to or close to the Gridiron Heroes booth.  That has provided me the opportunity to get to know Chris and Eddie Canales, their story and their mission.

We can only imagine the pain, struggle and frustrations that these student athletes must endure as they fight to recover from their injury.  It also creates a tremendous burden, physically, emotionally and financially on their families.  These families do everything they can to make their child’s life as normal as possible.

One of the obstacles the family will face is transportation.  Mothers lifting their teenage sons in and out of a car, then fighting to fold up the wheelchair.  If they are fortunate enough to obtain a power chair, it creates an additional challenge due it’s bulk and weight.  One of the many services that Gridiron Heroes provides is raising money to assist these families to secure a wheelchair accessible van.

This is where TASO Football steps in.  I presented a proposal to the Football Board of Directors to create a program where our members can gift one of the Gridiron Hero athletes one of these vans.  The Board overwhelming supported this initiative as did the Football Chapter officers the next day.

If every TASO football member donates one half of a junior high game fee …. ONLY ONE HALF …. TASO Football members can provide a wheel chair van for one of these kids.  Tell me, is there any other charity that a football official should support more than Gridiron Heroes?  Remember that in every game, junior high to varsity, where one of these Texas athletes was injured, our members were there officiating.

Here’s how this will work.  We have created a donation page similar to our Annual Meeting registration page where you can donate with a credit card.  I know many of you will want to donate more, so there are additional options for donation amounts. 100% of the donations, less credit card charges, will go to the cause.  You may also send a check to the TASO office, payable to TASO with “Provide a Ride” in the note field. Gridiron Heroes has a process based on need to determine which injured athlete will receive a wheelchair accessible van.

This initiative is entirely voluntary, there is no pressure for anyone to participate, but what an opportunity to make such an enormous difference for the family of an athlete injured while playing the game we all love.

Let’s do this.  Let’s PROVIDE A RIDE and make a big difference in the lives of one of these families.

If you have any questions, please send them to me.

Thanks,

Michael Fitch 

Executive Director

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