Ryan Ostry
Bugle Reporter
@RyanOstry_BR18
rostry@buglenewspapers.com
They say that there is no stronger bond between close family members, well that’s exactly what was on display throughout the day Tuesday at the Bolingbrook Golf Club who hosted the 20th Annual Celebrity Golf Outing charity event.
The Retired Professional Football Players of Chicago is a non-for-profit organization that aims to support the local youth, educational programs and a variety of charitable causes.
Throughout the day different food, games, prizes and a silent auction was presented where the all of the proceeds will benefit the RPFPS’s Scholarship program.
In total, two venerable students Kyle Neputy and Mitrese Smith, were presented with four-year collegiate scholarships for their suburb efforts on-and-off the field.
“Getting engaged with everything we have going on with the scholarships and our youth grant, we’ve just accelerated these programs so much over the course of the last three to four years that the brand as it stands now is as heightened as we hoped it could be,” Executive Director Tom Serpento said.
Multiple highly recognized NFL retired players were in attendance to support the charitable cause, most notably from the hometown Chicago Bears: Rashied Davis, Jerry Azumah, Otis Wilson, Bruce Herron and others.
“Helping somebody and giving back is the number one cause why we’re out here,” Wilson said.
One of the elder statesmen of the Chicago Bears group, Herron finds that his previous role has been beneficial and knows why this charity is so important.
“I’ve been associated with this organization for many years while being a past president helping to raise funds for scholarships for kids who have plans for their future and who are willing to work for hard for it,” Herron said.
While Herron knows this is a charity event and it has many great benefits, he knows that it even makes it better when the players together all have admiration of one another.
“This is certainly a brotherhood and a fraternity because we understand that playing football at this level was the most difficult thing we have ever done, and when guys play at that level having the success they did, there is just a level of respect for one another.”
RPFPC President Brett Novoselsky said that he enjoys seeing the jubilant faces reuniting every year at the annual charity event, and the fact that it’s for a great cause is just extra incentive for players to be involved.
“It’s truly near and dear to all of our hearts honestly,” Novoselsky said. “We just all love it, and to see all the guys coming back with over 50 in total, different teams, local area guys it’s always just a great time and brotherhood feeling.”
The NFL Players Association, Former Players — Chicago Chapter is one of 33 former NFL player chapters in the nation.
Former players recognize the importance of the meeting, and since 2012 where the Chicago Chapter was voted “Chapter of the Year” for its unprecedented charitable work within the Chicagoland region it even resonates more said former Buffalo Bills center Mike Tosaw.
“The fact that we can talk about the good old days and then help contribute to this amazing chapter, it is all just so much fun,” Tosaw said.