Benefit aiding DayBreak Center, Bulldog Bench
SANDPOINT — The organizers of an upcoming dinner and auction are hoping the combined star power of two iconic athletes will be enough to score a financial touchdown for a pair of local non-profit organizations.
NFL legends Jerry Kramer and Jake Plummer are working with the Sandpoint Senior Center on the April 11 event, which will benefit the DayBreak Center and the Bulldog Bench.
Both the DayBreak Center, which provides daycare for seniors with dementia, and the Bulldog Bench, which supports local high school sports, operate on limited budgets and rely heavily on community support, said Norma White of the Senior Center.
While the organizations are appreciated within the community, they are also under funded, White said.
“The money is not there yet, but the need is there,” she said.
With signed footballs and jerseys from two of the state’s most decorated athletes up for grabs, White hopes the auction will give both organizations financial breathing room for the remainder of the year.
An alumnus of Sandpoint High School, Kramer had a standout career at the University of Idaho before joining the Green Bay Packers in 1958. Five times named to the NFL’s All Pro team, Kramer ended his career in 1968 after winning five NFL titles and two Superbowls.
Plummer, who spent nearly a decade in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals and the Denver Broncos, has been active in the senior community since retiring to Sandpoint in 2007, according to White.
White said both men have seen the effects of Alzheimer’s and were quick to sign on for the event.
“I think it really touches close to home for both of them,” she said.
Sandpoint Senior Center board member John Elsa, who came up with the event, said Plummer has been an integral part in keeping the center viable in today’s difficult economy, doing everything from raking yards to delivering meals to the elderly.
“He’s been great,” Elsa said. “He’s put a lot of energy into this and has been more than a willing participant.”
In addition to sports memorabilia, the auction will feature a number of must-have items, including season passes to The Festival at Sandpoint, a load of fire wood and rounds of golf at the Priest Lake Golf Course.
Sandpoint High School head football coach Mike Mitchell will be master of ceremonies at the event, which begins at 4:30 p.m. at Hooties at the Elks.
Tickets to the benefit, which include cocktails and dinner, are $25 per person. Only 120 tickets are available, so interested parties are encouraged to act soon. To purchase a ticket or donate an auction item, call White at 263-6860 or visit the Senior Center at 820 West Main Street.