The National Football Foundation is a non-profit, nationwide organization founded in 1947 under the leadership of Army Black Knights football coach Earl Blaik, General Douglas MacArthur and noted journalist Grantland Rice. Its mission is to promote American amateur football as an integral and wholesome part of our educational process; to encourage the beneficial direction and playing of the game at schools and colleges throughout the country; to provide the proper incentives and ideas for American youth and set standards of sportsmanship for the individual player.

In addition to supporting amateur football on the local level, the National Football Foundation oversees the support, administration and operation of the College Football Hall of Fame. Since the inception in 1951, the NFF administers the balloting for the College Hall of Fame. The names of Red Grange, Jim Thorpe, George Gipp, Knute Rockne and Amos Alonzo Stagg were among those elected to the first class of inductees to the Hall. Each year the William V. Campbell Trophy is awarded to the American college football player that best represents the combination of academics, community service and on-field performance. The William V. Campbell Trophy is referred to as the “Academic Heisman”.

Over the past 70+ years, the NFF has grown to more than 120 chapters, with over 15,000 members. The organization headquarters is located in Irving, Texas and is led by Chairman of the Board – Archie Manning and President & CEO Steven Hatchell. The College Football Hall of Fame is located in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. For more information on the NFF, please access: www.footballfoundation.org.

The Toledo/Wistert Chapter of the National Football Foundation was established in 1962 by Michael “Whitey” Wistert and a group, of friends. Wistert was the first of three brothers to play college football at the University of Michigan, with all three brothers achieving All American status and having their number retired by the university. The Wistert brothers were elected into the College Hall of Fame in 1967. Today, the Toledo chapter is led by a volunteer team that works toward recognizing the Scholar Athletes within the region. The region covers more than 125 high schools in 17 athletic conferences throughout northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan. Upon receiving recommendations from high school coaches, a panel of board members select the honorees. The awards program has grown from the first class of 7 honorees in 1962 to this year when 42 Scholar Athletes will be recognized, along with a number of coaches and local football officials. The chapter also conveys two Post Graduate Awards to a University of Toledo and Bowling Green State University player. Over $275,000 in scholarships have been awarded by the Toledo/Wistert chapter over the years.

The highlight of the post football season is the Scholar Athlete Awards Banquet held in March at the Toledo Seagate Convention Centre. Each year a major college head football coach spends special time with the young men being honored as they visit a Toledo area Children’s Hospital and also as the keynote speaker . Over the past several years the featured speakers have included: Pat Fitzgerald, Jim Harbaugh, Matt Campbell, Brady Hoke, Urban Meyer, Brian Kelly, Jim Tressel, Rich Rodriguez, Gary Pinkel and Nick Saban. The banquet is a wonderful event to highlight the talented athletes and dedicated individuals and has grown in attendance to upwards of 1,000 guests. The Toledo/Wistert chapter of the NFF is a chartered non-profit organization.

Honoring the top Scholar-Athletes in the Greater Toledo area brings recognition to those young men who have excelled on the playing field, in their classrooms and in their communities. These awards dramatize our stand which can only be successful with your support.

Please join with us in pursuing these goals by becoming a member of the National Football Foundation.

Thank you!