Chicago Bears Legend and Boys & Girls Club Alumnus Gale Sayers Meets With Club Members To Talk About His Experiences On and Off the Field. Sayers joins Bank of America in announcing $100,000 donation to the Boys & Girls Clubs in Greater Chicagoland continuing legacy LaSalle and Bank of America's giving tradition
Chicago Bears legend Gale Sayers will help announce Bank of America's $100,000 donation to the Boys & Girls Clubs in Greater Chicagoland. Sayers will speak to local James R. Jordan Boys & Girls Club members about his experiences on and off the field. Sayers largely attributes who is today to his experiences growing up as a member of his local Kansas area Boys & Girls Club. Bank of America is the official bank of NFL.
BIO: Born in Wichita, Kansas, Sayers' work ethic and development of his athletic talents resulted in dozens of college football scholarship offers but he chose to stay home and head to Lawrence to play for the Kansas Jayhawks. While at Kansas Sayers became a two-time All American tailback whose 99 yard touchdown run against Nebraska as a sophomore is still an NCAA record.
The "Kansas Comet" had just taken off when the Chicago Bears selected him in the 1965 NFL draft. His NFL career would become a treasured highlight film as the quick, agile and elusive player caused scores of missed tackles and created never-ending headaches for defensive coaches throughout the league.
A few of the many memorable achievements:
-1965 NFL Rookie of the Year
-NFL record six touchdowns in one game (1965 vs. San Francisco)
-1965 Led the NFL in scoring (22 touchdowns)
-All time NFL kickoff return leader (touchdowns and average)
-1967, '68, and '70 NFL All Star Game MVP
-Member of the NFL 75th Anniversary All Time Team
-1970 Most Courageous Player by the Pro Football Writers of America
-1977 Inducted in to NFL Hall of Fame (youngest player ever)
Upon retirement from the Bears, Sayers made his off-the-field life as exciting and productive as his football career. His many contributions to academics, athletics, business, community and charitable include:
National Board member - Junior Achievement
Board of Trustees - Boy Scouts of America Chicago Chapter
Board member - Marklund Children Center for handicapped children
Alumni spokesman - Boys and Girls Club of America
Board member - Better Boys Foundation
'B7Board member - The Cradle Adoption Agency
Sayers' Hall of Fame story also includes his work as an author and humanitarian. His book of Offensive Football Fundamentals and much acclaimed autobiography, I am Third, represents more than athletic and business success. It reflects Sayers' philosophy of life: the Lord is first; my family and friends are second; I am third. The sad, heart warming, and award-winning television movie "Brian's Song" was scripted directly from I am Third. The movie featured the special on and off the field relationship between Sayers and his cancer-stricken teammate, Brian Piccolo. Pride, poise, leadership, dedication and loyalty are all Hall of Fame traits exhibited by the original "Magic" man of professional sports. For Sayers, and men like him, sacrifice equals greatness.
Currently serving as President of Sayers 40, Inc., a company he founded with his wife in 1984, he holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education and a Masters of Science degree in Educational Administration from Kansas. He has also undertaken financial management training at the New York Institute of Finance.
BACKGROUND: The Bank of America Charitable Foundation is one of the largest corporate foundations in the country. Bank of America supports the communities in which it's associates live and work through philanthropic giving, associate volunteerism and community development efforts. Building on the outstanding track records of Bank of America and LaSalle Bank, Bank of America will continue to deliver capital and credit to low- and moderate-income and minority communities, setting a goal to invest and lend $70 billion over ten years in IL. Additionally, Bank of America will sustain legacy LaSalle and Bank of America's philanthropic giving in Illinois at over $14 million.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago
Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago (BGCC), an affiliate of Boys & Girls Clubs of America strives to inspire all young people, especially those who need us the most to realize their full potential as responsible and caring citizens. Today, Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago provides services through 32 locations (8 facility-based Club sites; 23 school based sites; and 1 child care only location) with a staff of just over 325 professionals. Clubs are packed every day with an average daily attendance of 3,200 children at any given time. Please support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago by visiting www.bgcc.org or calling 312-235-8000.
James R. Jordan Boys & Girls Club
2102 W. Monroe St.
Chicago
Today, 3 pm
