National Football Foundation

Since the formation of the Northwest Indiana Chapter in 2004 at the request of then Purdue head coach Joe Tiller, the chapter has grown from 50 members in their first year to nearly 300 supporters today. Serving as the chapter's executive director, Jim Vruggink has been a guiding hand in that development.
 
In just a short period of time, the Joe Tiller Chapter has honored over 70 student-athletes and distributed more than $82,000 in scholarships. Each year the chapter holds their awards banquet on the Purdue campus to recognize area standouts while also honoring Purdue graduates who are playing in the NFL. Additionally, they present Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Football and Distinguished American awards. At this year's banquet, Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints and Akin Ayodele of the Miami Dolphins spoke to the crowd about their experiences as student-athletes.
 
"Serving as a chapter leader for the Joe Tiller Chapter of Northwest Indiana has been a very rewarding experience for me," says Vruggink. "I was energized by Joe Tiller's desire to start a chapter here in Northwest Indiana and have been sustained by the wonderful growth and accomplishments of this chapter. The ability to provide financial assistance for so many high school scholar athletes and to recognize the accomplishments of deserving supporters of amateur football is indeed very gratifying."
 
A 1970 graduate of Central Michigan University with a degree in journalism, Vruggink is currently a voting member of the Harris College Football poll and is also on the executive board of the Gale Sayers Center in Chicago. He is an advisor to two campus groups and is also active in his church and with local charities.
 
Vruggink is currently working at Purdue in the Marketing & Media Office after 19 years in intercollegiate athletics, when he started as sports information director in 1982. He lives in West Lafayette with his wife Marion and daughters Jaime and Kim.