Dr. Melinda Wolford, left, and her husband, Eric Wolford, Youngstown …

Special to The Vindicator | published: August 11, 2011

Dr. Melinda Wolford, left, and her husband, Eric Wolford, Youngstown State University head football coach, present a check for $1,600 to officials of the Rich Center for Autism, including, right from center, Phyllis Ricchiuti, board president; Georgia Backus, director; Geri Kosar, founding member; and Juli Costas, board member. The funds were raised through the second annual Women’s Football Clinic at YSU’s Stadium Club in May, organized by Dr. Wolford, Dan Kopp, Coach Carmen Bricillo and Lynn Cadle. The event aims to inform local women about the game while raising funds for area charities. It included dinner, a tour of Stambaugh Stadium and demonstrations by coaches on game strategies and regulations. Last year’s proceeds went to breast-cancer research, but the coaches wanted the funds to stay in the YSU community this year, so they chose the Rich Center, which has operated on the campus since 1995 and currently serves 70 families.