NFL scores for charity

By Jon Moffett

The DeBartolo Foundation

brings pros to the Valley for its annual benefit golf outing

111Instead of palm trees, tall pines lined the land and the only sand was in the bunkers on the side of the greens at the Youngstown Country Club. The golf course played host to the annual Edward J. DeBartolo Memorial Scholarship Foundation Golf Outing.

Current and past members of the San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers and St. Louis Rams participated in the event. Other attendees included the 49ers’ Gold Rush cheerleaders, local sports personalities, local athletes and even a rock star.

The event raises money for students who need help in getting an education.

“My father in-law started this event, and my wife took it over several years after he passed away,” said John York, who, along with his wife, Marie Denise DeBartolo York, owns the 49ers. “It’s in memory of him and his idea was that anybody could raise themselves up if they had an education, and all of this money is raised for kids that may need a little help getting an education, financially.”

Denise DeBartolo York has handled the charity event for the past dozen years, York said.

“We’ve put about $600,000 into education over the years,” York said. “The kids come back and do well and have a relationship with Denise. So, it’s really a good thing and this brings a lot of people together that are many of Mr. DeBartolo’s old friends and a lot of new young people.

“It’s a great couple of days. The 49ers talk about going out every Sunday to win on the football field, but there are 350 other days out of the year where we try to be the best community citizens that we can be and the best business partners.

“Denise was raised to be part of the community … my parents did the same. It comes fairly natural. We try to teach that to our children and hopefully be examples of that to others.”

Some current 49er players were on hand to show their support of the organization and the foundation it represents.

“Anytime there’s something to do with charity or giving back, I’m always down for that; I’m a huge supporter of that,” said Vernon Davis, 49ers tight end and first-round draft pick in 2006. “I’m really into it.

“It’s something that developed over the past two years … to just allow myself to enjoy the whole concept of giving back. It feels good. You can look back and say I was a contributor to giving back to these kids.”

This year’s first-round draft pick, Kentwan Balmer, said, “It’s a blessing to be around a great group of guys, out here learning a new game, having fun.

“Being invited here by Mr. York and his family is just a great honor to me, and I was just happy I could be a part of it.

“I was a little uptight coming out here, just expecting to be around a lot of people. I’ve never been around a crowd like this before, but everybody made me feel right at home and I got to mingle with a lot of people and meet new people. It’s been an all-around great experience.”

The event was not limited to current players. Fred Dean and Dante Lavelli highlighted a group of former players.

St. Louis Rams quarterback Marc Bulger said it was a little odd seeing all the 49ers gear.

“I think the Rams will give me a pass for the event,” Bulger said. “If it was just for me to raise money for a D-lineman, there would be problems, but it’s for the right reasons.

“You can have fun and raise money for this foundation and the kids. I don’t see anything else I’d rather be doing today. There’s always time for working out and there’s time for football, but giving back is the most important thing.”

Bulger was joined by former teammate and former 49er Jeff Wilkins, who retired following the 2007 season as the Rams kicker. Wilkins grew up in Austintown and knows the importance of giving back to the area.

“It feels good to be out here for charity purposes,” Wilkins said. “It is weird seeing 49ers stuff everywhere. I’m not used to that. Anytime you get out here and play golf it’s a good thing. It always feels great anytime you can get back to the community where you grew up. It’s such a tight-knit community and the people are great here.”

NFL players weren’t the only celebrities on the card either. Boxer Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik and Youngstown State football coach Jon Heacock were in attendance, as was rock star Eddie Money.

“It’s great,” Pavlik said of the event. “I do any of the charity events; I do as many as I can. When I get invited, it’s a compliment.”

Heacock said the event was “impressive” and it was put on by “generous people who care about the community and the kids in the community.”

There were 36 four-man teams. Each team had generally one or two celebrities to fill things out.

The event may have been fun for the people to golf with celebrities, but it was just as much fun for the celebrities.

When Balmer was asked about his golf game, he stuttered before teammates announced it was “stellar.”

Balmer’s tee shot on the third hole sliced right and hit a tree a few yards away. He and his group laughed it off and continued play.

jmoffett@vindy.com