NFL Hall of Famer to help raise funds for local nonprofit

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NFL Hall of Famer and Baylor legend Mike Singletary will be the keynote speaker for the first large scale fundraiser for The Rhett Revolution, a nonprofit, which was formed after popular McGregor High School freshman Rhett Hering was killed in an ATV accident on Dec. 28, 2015, at the end of the driveway of his family’s home.

“We are excited beyond belief and honored to have a Baylor and NFL legend to serve as the keynote speaker for the inaugural Rhett Revolution banquet,” said Rhett’s father, Jimmy.

“We know that Mike and the revolution share similar interest and that is service and support to those in need in our community.”

The Rhett Revolution’s “Big Event” with Mike Singletary is from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 21 at the new Exchange Events Center in McGregor.

Tickets will go on sale next week at RhettRevolution.org.

The Rhett Revolution group began shortly after Rhett’s death as classmates performed days of community service in his memory.

The group officially became a nonprofit corporation in March 2017 and later that year KWTX joined the group, along with Rhett’s parents Jimmy and Lorna, touring local schools to help spread the message of being kind and being brave.

“You always want to do something when a tragedy strikes,” said Rhett Revolution Board Member Paul Allison.

“You want to find a way to feel better. You want to find a way to make some sense out of what happens to maybe get beauty from ashes. So I think that was on everyone’s minds that we needed to do something.”

To say they’ve done something would be an understatement.

The group took over operations at the local food pantry, which was stretched thin in terms of both volunteers and resources.

The impact they’ve made in the small town has been huge.

“The food pantry is probably our most public thing that we do. We have lots of volunteers that come and help. Each month we serve an average of 60 customers at the food pantry and it’s actually a lot of fun,” Allison said.

But there are plenty of not-so public ways that the nonprofit helps.

They write letters of encouragement to local first-year college students and put in the envelope surprises such as a $20 bill.

They provide shoes for kids who don’t have them and dental services for those who can’t afford it.

They even provide protein bars and shakes to student-athletes who may get extra hungry during the day or need a snack when they travel but don’t have the means to buy anything.

“Athletics was very close to Rhett’s heart so this is something that we really enjoy doing just to make sure that they have something to eat,” Allison said.

— KWTX