By: Dina Phinney, Documentary Directed By: Davies Chirwa
On Monday, December 5, 2016, the Trufant Family Foundation hosted the 12th Annual Marcus Trufant Bowling and Billiards Classic at Acme Bowl, Tukwila, WA.
The event included a bowling and billiards tournament, silent auction, sales of raffle of tickets and memorabilia. Hundreds of 12s fans and Trufant supporters attended the event. Constance Trufant said it’s the 12th year of their bowling and billiards classic, it’s for the 12s and all about the 12s. The Trufant family thanks all their fans for their support year after year. According to Marcus Trufant, it’s the same loyal supporters who continue to come and support their events. He gave a shout out to the 12s and the love they give to the family and he added that it all goes back to the community. It’s all about making dreams come true.
Four current Seahawks’ players Richard Sherman, Doug Baldwin, Deshawn Shead and KJ Wright made an appearance in support of the Trufants. Other celebrities present were retired Seahawks and NFL Hall of Fame Walter Jones, Seahawks alumni Ricardo Lockette, Seahawks’ alumni Sean Locklear, retired NFL player Isaiah Trufant and current University of Washington outside linebacker Psalm Wooching. Jordan Babineaux, a retired Seahawks and current sports analyst was also in attendance. Several Seagals and Seattle Mist players attended the event and posed for pictures with the guests. Mama Beverly Sherman (Richard Sherman’s mom) and Mama Mae Milloy (Mother of NFL Alum Lawyer Milloy) came to support the Trufants as well. Big Lo, the Seattle Super Fan, Blitz and Seahawks’ Santa made the event more fun for the kids.
The celebrities posed for pictures with the fans and signed autographs all through the night. The presenting sponsor was Chris Milgard Foundation. The other major sponsors were Safelite Repair and US Bank.
The Masters of Ceremonies were Bender from the Bender Nation radio show and Terry Hollimon with the Barbershop206 with 710AM ESPN Radio. The evening included a performance of the Blue Thunder and live music by Lloyd “Chill” Trufant and his band.
The overall mission of the Trufant Family Foundation is to help make dreams come true for disadvantaged youth and their families. For many years, they have focused their effort on three major areas such as providing college scholarships and internships, youth football programs and TruFitness programs for children and adults. Among the charities and programs they support are Boys and Girls Clubs, Sickle Cell Research, Youth Football Camps, Fitness and Boot Camps, Read Across America and many others.
The event wouldn’t go as efficiently and smoothly without Kawehi Marshall and Michael Dana who both serve in the board and work tirelessly and selfishly to make the event a success.
Co-founder Constance Trufant was very pleased with the turn out. With her three sons making a successful career in the NFL, she leads the foundation of tireless volunteers and generous sponsors and supporters to raise money for their programs and create opportunities for others in the community. She is an amazing philanthropist who continues to pay it forward. With her success of having three sons play the same position with different NFL teams, we may call her the “NFL’s super mom”. With the success of the Trufant family, they never forget to give back to the less fortunate in their community.
The vision of the Trufant Family Foundation is to be an example of service to others by giving time and resources out of love for the betterment of children, adults, families and the community. They strive to make a difference in someone’s life one person at a time and to share their success with others as a true example that all things are possible and can be achieved by those who believe.
