Foundation of Courage in cooperation with 1 Voice Foundation puts on the Badge Bowl annually. Each year a special family is selected to be the primary recipient of funds raised to aid them with household expenses and give them the opportunity to take off of work and care for their child.
Badge Bowl History
History of the Badge Bowl
Tampa’s Bravest vs. Tampa’s Finest
To benefit 1 Voice Foundation & the Foundation of Courage
What is the Badge Bowl?
The Badge Bowl is a flag football game between Tampa Fire Fighters and Tampa Police. Prior to the football game there is a carnival atmosphere with food, games, a raffle and a silent auction with incredible prizes.
Where does the money go?
Working closely with 1 Voice Foundation, a non-profit organization providing families with emotional support and information regarding treatment protocols, clinical trials and financial assistance, the Foundation of Courage committee members select a family who has a child battling cancer and is financially devastated by the disease. Fifty percent of the net proceeds are placed in trust account to assist the selected child’s family with expenses; 25% is donated to the 1 Voice Foundation; and the final 25% is donated to the Foundation of Courage. The Foundation of Courage uses these funds throughout the year to help other families battling childhood cancer.
History of the Badge Bowl
Badge Bowl I - 2002
In July 2002 the Dumke family received devastating news. Their seven year old daughter, Taylor, had a brain tumor, Medulloblastoma to be specific. Up to this time Taylor was an active, athletic little girl. She played soccer and was a cheerleader for the Wesley Chapel Athletic Association (WCAA). The WCAA wanted to do something to support the family and Badge Bowl was born. The first Badge Bowl was held at Wesley Chapel High School. An estimated 1,000 people attended and raised about $8,000.
Taylor is now fourteen years old and attends Wiregrass High School. She has been cancer free for six years.
Badge Bowl II - 2003
Based upon the success of Badge Bowl I and the desire to continue helping families with children fighting cancer, the second Badge Bowl was scheduled to be played at Wharton High School. Daniel Frydrych, a bright and energetic 9- year-old who was battling the same type of cancer as Taylor, was selected. During the half-time activities of Badge Bowl, Daniel received the first Taylor Dumke Courage Award. The award is named for the first Badge Bowl beneficiary and honors the courage and determination of all children fighting cancer. Approximately 1,500 people attended and about $15,000 was raised.
Despite a long and courageous battle, Daniel lost his fight a few days before his 12th birthday in February 2006.
Badge Bowl III - 2004
By this time, the Tampa Bay Lightning Foundation approached a Badge Bowl committee member and asked to help. The Lightning Foundation made a donation providing the committee with the funds needed to start the Foundation of Courage.
In 2004, six year old Desirae Bravo was selected to be the third Badge Bowl honoree. She was 4- years old when diagnosed with Leukemia. She was beyond excited when she was told about Badge Bowl and fun night planned for her. Unfortunately Desirae never made it to the Badge Bowl; she passed away two weeks prior to the event.
With Desirae's mother and family in attendance, Badge Bowl went on as planned and approximately $21,000 was raised with over 2,000 people in attendance.
Badge Bowl IV - 2005
The 2005 honoree was 8 year old James Davis. He was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma, a form of brain cancer at the age of 4. James and his family arrived at Badge Bowl in style, received VIP treatment and were shown the time of their lives. The smile never left James' face all evening. The event raised $31,000 and well over 2,000 people attended.
He defied all odds and fought this horrible disease extremely hard. After four years and a total of four separate cancer diagnoses, James died August 2006.
Badge Bowl V - 2006
Badge Bowl V was another fun filled night with football, food, fun and games. Jimmy Reichert, a seven year old boy with Leukemia, received the Courage Award that evening. With the funds raised from Badge Bowl, the Foundation of Courage worked with the Krewe of Agustina de Aragon, Children’s Cancer Center, Rooms To Go and Famous Tate Appliances to help the Reichert family move from their 600 square foot mobile home, which was in dire need of repair, to a newer 1,400 square foot mobile home.
Jimmy put up a long and hard fight, but lost his battle with cancer on July 23, 2008.
Badge Bowl VI - 2007
Badge Bowl VI was another success. Brooke Martin, a four-year old with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), received the Courage Award that evening. The bleachers at Wharton High School were nearly full as the community rallied to support Brooke and the other children fighting cancer. Nearly $40,000 was raised at the event.
Brooke recently received a bone marrow transplant as she continues her fight to overcome ALL.
Badge Bowl VII - 2008
Badge Bowl VII was held on November 22, 2008 at Wharton High School. Angelo Cerchione, a seven year old with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), received the Courage Award. Badge Bowl received much community and sponsor support and approximately $40,000 was raised. Angelo’s mom shared her experience at the Badge Bowl on her blog. Below is a portion of that blog:
"If there was ever a day that could never be described to the fullest, the Badge Bowl last night was one of those days. It was the biggest, craziest, most overwhelming, unbelievably fantastic night. The thank yous are never going to come as enough. First we would like to thank Mike and Major Bennett for all of their hard work in putting this together, along with every single mother who put time and effort into this, their families and friends also. Thank you to everyone...EVERYONE who came as a support for Badge Bowl VII. So hard to name everyone but we do want to say a special thank you to Holley for her help last night.
The game was so emotional for all of us. I do wish that every one of these kids could experience this. I am missing all of the kids we knew that have passed, and yet to see their families come out and support us even though it was so hard, thank you also."
Today, Angelo is playing soccer and just started third grade. He had his port removed which means no more chemotherapy.
