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BY ERIN CLARK
THE COURIER
Published Tuesday, July 25, 2006
There's always hope.
Many youngsters dream of becoming sports stars - and for some, like Tony Semple, it really happens.
Now Semple is passing along his own version of hope, and he's aiming to help kids who need it most. He founded the Tony Semple Foundation for Hope last year to provide hunting trips for children with life-threatening illnesses.
"Hunting is a passion of mine," Semple said. "When I found out that the Make-A-Wish Foundation does not support and grant hunting wishes to children anymore because it's politically incorrect, I decided to start a foundation to give inspiring, meaningful outdoor experiences to youth."
Semple, who now lives in Detroit, is a former professional football player and a Lincoln Community High School alumnus. His parents still reside in Lincoln.
He attended Memphis University, and he also worked at St. Jude Children's Hospital while in Memphis. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in 1994 and played with them until his retirement last year. Semple became known during his NFL career as a common face at charity events.
In fact, it was at a charity event that he met Craig Mortz, who co-founded the Foundation for Hope with him.
Mortz had been doing a similar wish program for several years. When he met Semple, they turned it into the Foundation for Hope.
"It was just natural once we became friends," Mortz said.
The Foundation provides any sort of hunting wish a youth could want, and every trip is tailored specifically to the individual youth. For example, one Texas youth has had enough of hunting whitetail deer ...
"His wish is to go on an airboat and....
Here's the rest: http://www.lincolncourier.com/story.asp?SID=2247&SEC=8
THE COURIER
Published Tuesday, July 25, 2006
There's always hope.
Many youngsters dream of becoming sports stars - and for some, like Tony Semple, it really happens.
Now Semple is passing along his own version of hope, and he's aiming to help kids who need it most. He founded the Tony Semple Foundation for Hope last year to provide hunting trips for children with life-threatening illnesses.
"Hunting is a passion of mine," Semple said. "When I found out that the Make-A-Wish Foundation does not support and grant hunting wishes to children anymore because it's politically incorrect, I decided to start a foundation to give inspiring, meaningful outdoor experiences to youth."
Semple, who now lives in Detroit, is a former professional football player and a Lincoln Community High School alumnus. His parents still reside in Lincoln.
He attended Memphis University, and he also worked at St. Jude Children's Hospital while in Memphis. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in 1994 and played with them until his retirement last year. Semple became known during his NFL career as a common face at charity events.
In fact, it was at a charity event that he met Craig Mortz, who co-founded the Foundation for Hope with him.
Mortz had been doing a similar wish program for several years. When he met Semple, they turned it into the Foundation for Hope.
"It was just natural once we became friends," Mortz said.
The Foundation provides any sort of hunting wish a youth could want, and every trip is tailored specifically to the individual youth. For example, one Texas youth has had enough of hunting whitetail deer ...
"His wish is to go on an airboat and....
Here's the rest: http://www.lincolncourier.com/story.asp?SID=2247&SEC=8