People & Business

Famed ‘Rudy’ Athlete Coming to IMG Academy

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October 3, 2023 – Sarasota

Manatee County Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) will host a fundraising gala on Friday, November 10 at IMG Academy featuring keynote speaker Rudy Ruettiger, inspiration behind the 1993 movie ‘Rudy’.  

Ruettiger’s inspirational message of determination to play football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish will be recounted to an intimate audience at the first-annual fundraising gala benefitting Manatee County FCA.  

Ruettiger’s story is immortalized in the movie ‘Rudy’, which depicts his journey overcoming countless obstacles to achieve his dream. His story serves as a powerful source of motivation, demonstrating the profound impact that faith can have on the journey of an aspiring athlete.  

The November 10 gala will be hosted at IMG Academy’s Legacy Hotel. The event kicks off with a welcome reception at 6 p.m., followed by the keynote presentation at 7 p.m. Meredith Michaels, co-host of 107.9 WSRZ’s Jones & Company, will emcee the event. Gala sponsors and their guests are invited to an after-party meet-and-greet with Ruettiger. Individual event tickets start at $200 and sponsorship opportunities start at $1,000. 

The event benefits Manatee County FCA, a student-led nonprofit organization which brings the power of faith to athletics. The organization equips students with leadership skills, hosts events throughout the year to foster connections among students and offers character coaching for sports teams. 

Currently active in seven local schools, Manatee County FCA has set an ambitious goal to expand its reach to 12 schools by 2025. Funds generated from the gala will support this growth, providing resources such as bibles, devotionals, event support, staffing assistance and more to the new schools. 

For more information about the event and Manatee County FCA, or to purchase event tickets, please visit: Manateecountyfca.org/banquet 

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