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Coach joins United Way campaign
Loveland Daily - Reporter Herald
September 24, 2002
United Way in the News
Local United Way officials hope the story of a football coach who inspired a team and a town to move beyond racial prejudices will encourage people to make a difference in their own communities.
The United Way of Loveland-Berthoud-Estes Park and the Fort Collins Office will kick off their annual fund-raising campaign with a presentation by Coach Herman Boone, whose life inspired a film, "Remember the Titans," starring Denzel Washington.
Colorado State University football coach Sonny Lubick will join Boone at the Thursday night event in the McNeal Theater, Fort Collins High School, 3400 Lambkin Way.
"Coach Boone is a fantastic inspirational speaker," said Stephanie Giard, marketing director for the two United Way chapters. "He has an amazing story to tell about what he’s been through, and he does a great job of relating that to what’s going on in our community.
In 1971, Boone was named head coach of the T.C. Williams High School Titans in Alexandria, Va. Three different high schools had been integrated to form T.C. Williams, and racial tensions between players and community members were high.
Tensions escalated when Boone was named head coach over Bill Yoast, a popular white coach whom everyone had expected to get the job.
Boone and Yoast put their prejudices aside and eventually brought together the team and community. The Titans became one of the best teams in Virginia, compiling a 13-0 record and going on to win the state championship.
"We were looking for something to really make people understand what United Way is doing in our community," Giard said of inviting Boone to speak. "He is a huge supporter of United Way."
The two Larimer County United Way chapters joined forces this year to run a joint campaign.
They hope to raise $5.5 million to fund charitable agencies.
Last year, the two chapters combined raised $4.3 million in separate campaigns.
Donors this year will be asked to designate whether they want their money to go to the Loveland or Fort Collins chapter, said Bob Hix, executive director of the Loveland-Berthoud-Estes Park United Way.
The chapters, which fund agencies, will allow other non profit organizations that meet needs in one of five areas to apply for funds raised in the 2002 campaign.
Those areas include; "Safety net" programs meeting emergency needs; programs promoting health, wellness and quality of life; programs nurturing children and teens; programs promoting self-sufficiency; and programs helping seniors.
-By Felicia Jordan
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