THE ANNUAL FUND
From the desk of Josh Gattis,
One of the greatest honors ever bestowed upon me was my selection as the Broyles Award recipient following a special 2021 season at the University of Michigan. The award itself helped reconfirm what has always been my life’s calling – coaching and developing young men to be the very best versions of themselves, both on the football field and off. When he was honored with a lifetime achievement award in 2007, Coach Broyles sat on stage and shared a thought with Lee Corso that resonated deeply with me: “I’ve been blessed in so many ways. I’ve had a charmed life. I’ve had the only job I’ve ever wanted.”
But more than just its recognition of our team’s triumphs and the invaluable role every assistant coach plays in organizational success, the legacy of the Broyles Award means even more to me on a personal level, for reasons completely unrelated to X’s and O’s or offensive gameplanning.
The Broyles Award Annual Fund supports a different kind of game plan altogether – one for Alzheimer’s caregivers and their families at a most critical time of need. As the proud grandson of Martha Gattis – who tragically passed from Alzheimer’s in 2010, and someone who impacted my life in ways too numerous to count – my role in serving as a voice for the Broyles Award Annual Fund and to further the work of the Frank and Barbara Broyles Legacy Foundation means more to me than any personal acknowledgement or award ever could. I’ve seen the devastation, the grief and the stress every support system is put under following an Alzheimer’s diagnosis – and my heart aches for those dealing with the same tumult in their lives.
Coach Broyles’ life quickly turned from the gridiron to supporting Alzheimer’s caregivers following the passing of his beloved wife, Barbara, to the disease in 2004. Now in its 27th year, the Broyles Award continues to champion family members, support systems and individuals who uplift those affected by Alzheimer’s through the Broyles Award Annual Fund. Coach Broyles himself passed in 2017 to the same destructive disease, and his daughter and granddaughter – Betsy Broyles Arnold and Molly Harrell – have helped continue to push his legacy forward.
Today, I write you to ask that you consider a contribution to the Broyles Award Annual Fund. It is incumbent upon all of us to unite with a common goal of celebrating Coach Broyles, his outstanding legacy and his commitment to honoring assistant coaches in a game that has given us so much. Thank you for considering a donation today.
Sincerely,
Josh Gattis
Offensive Coordinator, University of Miami
2021 Broyles Award Winner
Contribute Today!
26 winners, over 100 Finalists, and a lifetime of coaching excellence.
Celebrating assistant coaches at the high school level, 46 States and counting.
Our Impact, 2019-2021
- Over 2,500 Famlies Served
- 250+ CEUs Distributed to Medical Professionals
- 85+ Events and Support Groups
- 4,500 Total Hours of Support
- 65,000+ People Impacted by Playbook
- $500,000+ Total Support Value
Our Mission
Though terminal, Alzheimer’s is rarely a rapid disease, and many diagnoses last for the better part of a decade. In a care-giving situation, financial and personal planning must be viewed as a shift in lifestyle, not an emergency. Unfortunately, many caregivers cannot anticipate nor adequately prepare for the costs or stresses of being a caregiver. We’ve been there, and we can help create a Game Plan to navigate these crises.
Supporting our Annual Fund directly benefits the following caregiver-oriented programs, allowing us to create game plans at no cost to caregivers or their families.
Coach’s Playbook, 2nd Edition
Game Plan Programs
Why We Need Your Help
financial planning is the largest source of long-term stress for caregivers
Over 5.8 million Americans over the age of 65 are living with Alzheimer’s, and the number is increasing rapidly. Every 65 seconds another person develops the disease in the United States. For most families, a dementia diagnosis is more than just a terminal illness: it is an abrupt end to a planned future for retirement and financial independence.
Important facts and figures
- The number of Americans age 65 and older with Alzheimer’s may grow to 13.8 million in 2025
- 16 million caregivers provided an estimated 18.6 billion hours of care to people with dementia (2019)
- Unpaid caregiver care is valued at nearly $244 billion
- Health care, long-term care and hospice for people 65+ with dementia cost estimated $305 billion (2020)
- Over 50% of those with dementia end up on Medicaid during their illness
- Fewer than 10% of families remain financially independent during a dementia diagnosis
