Join us at our Second Annual Foundation Weekend July 10-11, 2009

The 2009 Summer Gala, hosted by The Kris Wilson Foundation, will be held Friday, July 10, 2009 at Liberty Place, 313 West Liberty Street, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. NFL players attending the event include Cincinnati Bengals running back Kenny Watson, a former standout at Penn State and Harrisburg High School; Miami Dolphins fullback back Lousaka Polite, Kris Wilson’s former teammate and roommate at the University of Pittsburgh; Buffalo Bills linebacker Kawika Mitchell, Kris’s former teammate at Kansas City; and, of course, Wilson, who is entering in his second season with the San Diego Chargers. WGAL-TV 8 sports personality Pat Principe is returning for the second year as master of ceremonies.

This year’s event features the debut of the Kris Wilson Football Coaching Excellence Award, which will be given annually to a Lancaster County high school head football coach who best exemplifies the vision of The Kris Wilson Foundation, which is to help improve literacy and education among youth. The 2009 recipient is Curtis Waltman, head coach of the Pequea Valley High School Braves football team.

In nominating Coach Waltman, Pequea Valley Athletic Director Greg Fantazzi wrote, “I believe Curtis deserves such an award for his desire and enthusiasm he provides for all of his students. He cares more about how the students will do in life rather than just the wins or losses they have during the season.” Deborah Wilson Gadsden, president of The Kris Wilson Foundation adds, “Coaches have a great influence on the lives of student-athletes. They are very instrumental in making sure that we underscore the word student in the term student-athlete. And that’s something Kris cares very much about.” Kris will present the award to Coach Waltman.

The July 10th gala includes a sit-down dinner and program, and silent and live auctions featuring signed sports memorabilia from stars of the NFL, Major League Baseball and other sports, as well as gift certificates tickets to sporting events and other items. The Foundation is also expecting items autographed by Kris and the other NFL players attending the event, as well as autographed footballs and jerseys from other players in the league. Click here to view.

Tickets for the gala are $75 per person and can be purchased by calling 866-827-2159 ext. 3 or sending an email to gadsden_deb@kriswilsonfoundation.org. Tickets will be available until July 3, 2009.