As a group of football-loving enthusiasts with the purpose of advancing amateur football at the local, state and national levels, the Joe Tiller/Northwest Indiana Chapter of the NFF provides grassroots support in a variety of ways.
The chapter plans three annual meetings in the West Lafayette, Ind., area -- a fall gathering on the Purdue University campus in conjunction with a Boilermaker football game, an off-season “Football Fest” reception with some football celebrities and its marquee event, the Honors Dinner “Celebrating Our Legends” in late June.
Drew Brees, the former Purdue University All-American and current all-pro quarterback of the New Orleans Saints, has been a guest speaker and presenter at the dinner and also sponsors a scholarship.
Each year, the chapter honors members of the communities in Northwest Indiana with its Distinguished American Award, the Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Football Award, the Drew Brees Mental Toughness Award and the Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award. The chapter has also created its Gold Medallion Award for special occasions.
Selection of the Scholar Athlete of the Year is based 40% on academic achievement, 40% football performance and attitude, and 20% leadership and citizenship. In addition to seeking donations and sponsorships to support the scholarship program, the chapter also receives money ($500 for every 50 dues-paying members in the local chapter) from the national office in Irving, Texas.
The local chapter is involved with youth football programs such as the Lafayette 56ers, Attica Youth Football and Little Gridiron with teams of elementary school-aged players in the area. The chapter helped secure grants from the National Football League to assist programs in Attica and Rossville.
As a bonus, each dues-paying member receives a ballot in the selection process for the College Football Hall of Fame, a feature which helped elect former Purdue All-American Mark Herrmann to the Hall in 2010.
“One of the most important goals of the chapter is to help provide Purdue with the support its former players and coaches deserve in the College Hall of Fame,” says Bart Burrell, the chapter president and a former Purdue player.
The tax-deductible membership dues are $40 per year or $99 for three years, payable to the National Football Foundation. The NFF has more than 12,000 members and awards nearly $1 million in scholarships each year.
