By Gary Curreri
Sun Sentinel Correspondent
May 07, 2021 10:12 AM
Desmond Howard will be the keynote speaker at the YMCA of South Palm Beach County’s 19th annual Inspiration Breakfast on May 19. (YMCA of South Palm Beach County/Courtesy)
Former Heisman Trophy winner, Super Bowl champion, college football analyst and on-air personality for ESPN shows Desmond Howard will be the keynote speaker at the YMCA of South Palm Beach County’s 19th annual Inspiration Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 19.
The event, the Y’s largest fundraiser of the year, will take place outdoors at the Peter Blum Family YMCA, 6631 Palmetto Circle S. It is a morning of encouragement and motivation to celebrate the Y’s vision and commitment to promoting youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.
After a stellar career at the University of Michigan, Howard spent 11 seasons in the NFL where he caught 123 passes for 1,597 yards, rushed for 68 yards, returned 244 punts for 2,895 yards and gained 7,595 yards returning 359 kickoffs. He also scored 15 touchdowns (seven receiving, eight punt returns).
Overall, he gained 12,155 all-purpose yards in his professional career and won a Super Bowl title with the Green Bay Packers in 1997.
Howard joined ESPN in 2005 as a college football analyst on the Emmy Award-winning “College GameDay Built by The Home Depot” show and also calls midweek games on ESPN. He contributes to several ESPN shows and platforms, including “Get Up,” “SportsCenter” and “College Football Live.” In 2011, Howard was selected to the College Football Hall of Fame.
“Overcoming a year like 2020, the YMCA of South Palm Beach County can’t express their gratitude enough to our local community members who continue to show their support for the Y’s life-changing programs year after year,” said Jason Hagensick, president and CEO of the YMCA of South Palm Beach County. “We are extremely honored to have one of our South Florida neighbors and Heisman Trophy winner, Desmond Howard, share his story of perseverance to inspire our audience.”
Funds raised from the event will go toward supporting the Y’s financial assistance and youth development programs.
The YMCA Inspiration Breakfast is offering a selection of sponsorship opportunities and Community Partner tables that are available starting at $2,500 up to $15,000, some of which include VIP sponsor tickets to attend the VIP Preview Party Reception on May 18.
