Favre Family (From left to right): Scott, Jeff, Bonita, Brandy, and Brett.
It was a one-of-a-kind event for a one-of-a-kind person. On Saturday, June 21, Gulf Coast, along with the Island View Casino Resort, hosted the first-ever Irvin Favre Showcase Classic at Windance Country Club in Gulfport. The two-day event featured a VIP Pairings Party and Silent Auction June 20 at the Island View and golf at Windance.
"The inaugural Irvin Favre Showcase Classic is a huge success, and we want to make it bigger and better each year," Scott Favre said to more than 300 invited guests at the VIP Gala held at the Jungle Room at the Island View Casino Resort. The next day, more than 80 golfers teed it up to play golf and remember Irvin Favre, a man who spent 24 years coaching in Hancock County. He passed away Dec. 21, 2003. The tournament featured a “shamble” format, where the four-person team uses the best drive off the tee, then each player proceeds to play their own ball the rest of the hole.
By Saturday evening, more than $30,000 was raised for Gulf Coast students and the Brett Favre Fourward Foundation. Deanna Favre and Dickie Dunaway bought week stays in Ireland at the auction while other revelers purchased helmets and jerseys signed by Brett Favre, Eli and Peyton Manning. A limited edition print, a bow and one-of-a-kind footballs helped raise money for the Favre Fourward Foundation and Mississippi Gulf Coast Foundations.
“It’s such an honor to have this event in my father’s name,” said Brett, a three-time NFL Most Valuable Player during his playing days in Green Bay. “My relationship with my dad meant so much to me, and I’m overwhelmed and proud to be a part of this event.”
Rick, Joel, John and Jake Carter realize the importance of giving back to a community that has been good to them, and their involvement insured the event's success. Scott, Jeff, Bonita, Brett and Deanna joined with the Carters to honor a friend, a dad, a father-in-law and a husband who steeped himself in baseball and football across the Gulf Coast.
The Broke Spoke, an icon for hamburgers in Hancock County, set up shop at the halfway point on the course and fed plenty of hungry golfers.
Bonita Favre worked tirelessly to procure items for the auctioneer and organize volunteers, and her hard work and dedication to the tournament will indelibly etch Irvin's name in every scholarship awarded.
"We'll have an entire year to work on this for 2009, and we should be able to grow it each and every year," said son Jeff.