Green and Gold Gala to Feature Tony Dungy

February 18, 2013

Members of OBU's greater community, as well as patrons interested in benefiting Christian higher education, are invited to a special event featuring legendary NFL coach Tony Dungy on Tuesday, April 9, 2013, at The Tulsa Convention Center. The "Green & Gold Gala" will present an opportunity to hear a renowned Christian author and leader while contributing to student scholarship funds for Bison Hill.

"The Green and Gold Gala is an incredible opportunity for benefactors to provide an affordable Christian liberal arts education for tomorrow's college students while receiving a message from a renowned leader," said Dr. David W. Whitlock, OBU President. "The evening promises to be one of inspiration and motivation as we hear from this great coach, father, mentor and author."

Dungy is a historic Super Bowl-winning head coach whose teams made the playoffs each of his last 10 seasons, unprecedented in his era. He now serves as a studio analyst for NBC Sports' coverage of NFL events. While Dungy is considered one of the most influential voices in football today, he also is the No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of "Quiet Strength" and "Uncommon."

His crowning sports achievement came in Super Bowl XLI, when he became the first African-American coach to lead his team to a Super Bowl victory as the Colts defeated the Chicago Bears. A former NFL defensive back, Dungy is one of only three men to win Super Bowls as both a player and head coach joining Mike Ditka and Tom Flores.

Off the field, Dungy is renowned for his contributions to the community - both civic and charitable. He is focused on his faith and the value of education. He and his wife, Lauren, are the parents of seven children.

The impetus for OBU's Green and Gold Gala is the desire to bridge the financial gap for future generations of OBU students.

"Last year, 99 percent of all our students received some form of financial aid," said Will Smallwood, vice president for advancement at OBU. "Thanks to generous donors through the years, we were able to provide $21.9 million in scholarships for students. To address the growing concern of how today's students can afford a Christian liberal arts education, we work diligently to increase the scholarship funds we provide. The Green and Gold Gala is one opportunity for contributors to help meet students' needs."

The evening will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a reception for major sponsors. At 7 p.m., the Green and Gold Gala will feature Dungy speaking on "Motivating the Spirit."

Sponsorships and corporate tables are available as well as individual tickets. Cost for the Gala is $150 per ticket, which includes dinner. Of that price, $90 will go toward OBU scholarships as a tax-deductible gift to OBU. Individual tickets may be purchased online at the Green and Gold Gala website.

Tables may be purchased by calling OBU University Advancement at (405) 878-2703 or emailing Crystal McKee at crystal.mckee@okbu.edu.