MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — There’s still time to purchase tickets to hear legendary coach Bobby Bowden speak at this year’s West Virginia University Fellowship of Christian Athletes “Night of Champions” dinner.
Lydia Martinelli, a women’s campus representative with FCA and former track and field athlete, said it’s more than just a chance to bring back the former WVU and Florida State head football coach to Morgantown.
“Bobby Bowden, actually during his time at WVU, is the one who started WVU FCA,” she said. “The organization, the chapter was started on the campus by Bobby Bowden, and has obviously grown so much since. It’ll be nice to be able to bring him back and just to be able to celebrate all the growth FCA has seen since he started it.”
Though an international organization, Bowden will get the chance to see the roots he planted decades ago — and the public will also have that chance.
“It’s our main fundraising event, but we also want to provide a nice event for the community, an opportunity to hear from Bobby Bowden — who has such amazing connections with West Virginia and WVU,” Martinelli said. “We also just want to be able to share with the community what it is we do, what services we do provide the athletes on the campus, as well as the coaches.”
Martinelli said she has first hand experience, having joined FCA during her time as a WVU student-athlete.
“I came in when FCA was relatively established on the campus, and so I had so many opportunities available to me, resources available to me,” she said. “Mission trips available, Bible studies, devotionals, friendships, community already built in when I came in on the campus because WVU FCA was so established.”
Martinelli is thrilled, she said, to now help spread FCA’s core values in a leadership role.
“Equip them with resources, and then empower them to go share the gospel in different areas of their own lives,” she said. “On their teams, in their athletic communities, and within their personal communities as well.”
The dinner is Sunday, April 8 from 5:30 to 8 p.m at the Morgantown Marriott at Waterfront Place.
Tickets are still available at wvufca.org, which include individual tickets valued at $125, gold sponsor seating for ten guests valued at $1,500, and VIP sponsor with 10 guests valued at $2,000.
The VIP sponsorship includes a meet-and-greet and photo opportunity with Bowden an hour before the dinner.