Winter Classic Events will rev up early next month
The Daily Inter Lake
The 24th annual Whitefish Winter Classic will bring NFL notables and fun events to the Flathead Valley March 5 through March 8.
The Whitefish Winter Classic, a charity event that raises money to provide financial assistance for local families with children in need of medical care, is also a great opportunity to meet the players.
The brainchild of former Miami Dolphins player Doug Betters, the Whitefish Winter Classic grew out of his desire to show off Whitefish to fellow NFL players and his interest in helping local families who struggle to cover costs associated with their children's medical conditions such as transportation, housing and specialty equipment.
The schedule includes a downtown Whitefish poker run, ski and snowmobile picnic, VIP dinner and auction and NFL Play 60 Challenge for kids.
Those who will attend this year's Classic include Haloti Ngata of the Baltimore Ravens, Tuff Harris of the Tennessee Titans and Bobby Hauck, head coach for the University of Montana Grizzlies.
Last year, For The Children Inc., the organization that puts on the Classic, donated $50,000, helping more than 40 families.
Applications for assistance are available online at www.whitefishwinterclassic.org. Call Susan Abell at 862-2883 with questions.
This year's Whitefish Winter Classic outlines an exciting schedule of events that help raise money to For The Children Inc.:
March 5 - Poker run, 7 to 9 p.m. Join NFL players in a bar-to-bar poker game, starting at the Great Northern Bar and Grill, collecting your hand with a card from various bars in downtown Whitefish. $10 per hand. Raffle and prizes.
March 6 - Meet the players, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the Summit House atop Big Mountain; sponsored by BNSF Railway and Whitefish Mountain Resort. Local schools are invited to give students an opportunity to meet and receive autographs from NFL players. Representatives from BNSF and Big Mountain Ski Patrol will present short educational sessions and lunch is sponsored by BNSF. This is a free event. Contact Whitefish Winter Classic at 862-8146 for more information.
March 6 - Doug Betters NFL Play 60 Challenge "Get Active, Get Together," 4 to 6 p.m., Whitefish High School. Sponsored by the Whitefish Credit Union. Play games and learn more about staying healthy with players from the NFL. All ages are welcome and families are encouraged. This is a free event.
March 7 - Flathead Valley Snowmobile Association Picnic, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Whitefish Mountain Resort. Stop by for hamburgers and goodies while skiing or snowmobiling on the mountain. The picnic area is located on the northwest side of the Gray Wolf run. This event is free, but donations will be accepted.
March 7 - VIP dinner and live auction, 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake. An evening of fine dining and entertainment with the NFL players featuring a lively auction, including autographed sports memorabilia, original artwork and recreational packages. Table sponsorships and individual seat tickets are available. For reservations, contact Tonia Paulson at 249-6055.
March 8 - Champagne brunch, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Whitefish Lake Restaurant. A fabulous, all-you-can-eat feast created by local chefs. Tickets can be purchased in advance at Whitefish Credit Union, the Lodge at Whitefish Lake and Glacier Bank for $10. Tickets also are available for purchase at the door: $12 for adults or $6 for children.
For more information, visit whitefishwinterclassic.org or call Jill Hoxmeier, public relations coordinator, at 406-249-9911.