Celebrating Excellence: The CCEF Inaugural Athletes for Education Gala
Bringing Sports Icons and Community Together to Empower Citrus County Schools
I was honored to attend and support the inaugural Citrus County Education Foundation’s Athletes for Education event which was a resounding success, drawing support from a host of esteemed athletes and community members alike. Held to benefit Citrus County Schools students, staff, and schools, the event showcased a remarkable gathering of sports icons and local figures, all rallying behind a common cause of enhancing educational opportunities.
Distinguished participants such as Dr. Myron Rolle, Tony Saunders, Art Shamsky, Bill “NAHA” Nahorodny, Chris Richard, Ron Blomberg, Joe Eder, Ryan “Thumper” Klesko, Jason Maniecki, Dujuan Harris, Dexter Myles Jackson, Samuel Lamar Franklin, Paul Frase, Matt Geiger, Gary Glover, Toby Hall, to hometown hero Michael William Hampton, Jr., the lineup epitomized a blend of talent, charisma, and commitment to education.
Central to the evening’s proceedings was Dr. Myron Rolle, the keynote speaker whose journey from the football field to neurosurgery served as an inspiring narrative. Dr. Rolle shared insights from his experiences, emphasizing “The 2% Way”: a philosophy of continuous small improvements that propelled him to success both on and off the field.
Behind the scenes, the Citrus County Education Foundation (CCEF) leadership, spearheaded by Shaunda Burdette, Tiffani King, and Maggie Schmidt, worked tirelessly alongside the entire CCEF team, executive officers, and Board of Directors to ensure the event’s seamless execution. Special recognition was also reserved for CCEF EO Amy Barbieri, whose artistic contributions added an extra layer of charm to the venue.
The success of the evening was a testament to the collaborative efforts of all involved, including committee members Mike Baize, Brian Donovan, and Deb Gay, as well as Cajun Jimmy’s Seafood Seller & Café, represented by Lindsay Blair, Amy Crowell, and Tom Ivy, whose support was invaluable.
Gratitude was extended to the attendees whose generous donations and contributions will directly benefit the Citrus County School District, enriching the educational experience for current and future generations. Their support underscores a shared commitment to fostering academic excellence and nurturing the potential of every student within the Citrus County community.
As the first annual Athletes for Education event drew to a close, it left an indelible impression, serving as a beacon of hope and opportunity for the Citrus County Schools and the students they serve. With such passionate support behind them, the future looks brighter than ever for education in Citrus County.
The Athletes for Education
Dr. Myron Rolle is a Bahamian-American neurosurgeon and former football safety. He played college football at Florida State, and was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He attended the Florida State University College of Medicine and is a neurosurgery resident at Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital.
Tony Saunders was a professional baseball player for 10 seasons playing for the Florida Marlins, Tampa Bay Devil Rays and the Baltimore Orioles.
Art Shamsky was a professional MLB baseball player starting with the Cincinnati Reds in 1960. He was traded to the New York Mets in 1967 and was a major part of the ‘Miracle Mets’ that won the 1969 World Championship defeating the Baltimore Orioles.
Bill “NAHA” Nahorodny is an American former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues from 1976-1984. A catcher, he played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox, Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, and Seattle Mariners.
Chris Richard, American former professional basketball player. He has a wingspan of 7’4½”. A power forward, he played with the Florida Gators national championship men’s team during the 2006–07 season. He is a former Mr. Basketball in the state of Florida (2002). Richard played with the Minnesota Timberwolves for the 2007-08 NBA season and the Chicago Bulls in 2009-10.
Ron Blomberg played in Major League Baseball as a designated hitter, first baseman, and right fielder. He played for the New York Yankees (1969, 1971–1976) and Chicago White Sox (1978), and was the manager of the Bet Shemesh Blue Sox in the Israel Baseball League (2007).
Joe Eder is an eight-time World Champion Gold Medalist International Monster Tractor Puller and “EMAX: 2022 NTPA GN UNL Champion.”
Ryan “Thumper” Klesko is an American former Major League Baseball first baseman and corner outfielder who played for the Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants.
Jason Maniecki, former defensive tackle in the NFL who played three seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Dujuan Harris, former American football running back. He played college football at Troy, and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2011.
Dexter Myles Jackson is a former American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Appalachian State. Jackson was also a member of the Carolina Panthers, Virginia Destroyers, New York Jets and High Country Grizzlies.
Samuel Lamar Franklin is an American football safety for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He played college football at Temple. He saw action in all 17 games for the Panthers in 2022, posting a team-high 13 special teams tackles, the most by a Panthers player since 2012.
Paul Frase is a former American football player who played professionally in the National Football League for 11 seasons, from 1988 to 1998. Paul played with the New York Jets for seven seasons, the Jacksonville Jaguars for the inaugural and second seasons of the franchise, the Green Bay Packers in 1997, and finished his career with the Baltimore Ravens. He went to Super Bowl XXXII with Green Bay during his NFL career. Paul won the peer-voted Ed Block Courage Award unprecedentedly two times in the award’s 41-year history.
Matt Geiger, former professional NBA player selected by Miami Heat in the second round (42nd pick overall) of the 1992 NBA draft. He played in the NBA for 10 seasons from 1992–2002 with three teams: Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornets, and Philadelphia 76ers.
Gary Glover, former professional baseball pitcher. He had a career major league ERA of 5.03 over eight seasons, including time spent with the Anaheim Angels, Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers, Milwaukee Brewers, Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Toronto Blue Jays, who selected Glover in the 15th round of the 1994 Major League Baseball draft.
Toby Hall, former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2000 to 2008, primarily with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Hall was drafted by the Rays before they had a team on the field in 1997. Hall also played for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago White Sox.
Michael William Hampton, Jr. is an American former professional baseball player. Hampton played in Major League Baseball as a pitcher from 1993 through 2010. He pitched for the Seattle Mariners, Houston Astros, New York Mets, Colorado Rockies, Atlanta Braves and Arizona Diamondbacks.
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Today, I had the pleasure once again of experiencing the joy of reading this time with Jennifer Vybiral’s Kindergarten class at Central Ridge Elementary, as part of the Citrus County Education Foundation’s First Library initiative. This incredible program aims to foster a love for reading by organizing “read-ins” in classrooms on six designated dates throughout the school year.
