IFCA Honors Biomet's Darlene Whaley

Local football players Ross Kesler and Charlie Roeder will not be the only local people recognized at the North-South All-Star game in Indianapolis this weekend.

Biomet's Darlene Waley will be honored at the game as well. Waley will receive the President's Award from the Indiana Football Coaches Association.

"We give out one President's Award per year, and this year it is going to Darlene Waley," said Dave Land, the executive secretary-treasurer of the IFCA. "She will receive an autograph ball engraved with 'President's Award 2000' during halftime of the All-Star game.

"The award is given for going above and beyond in the sponsorship area for the North-South All-Star game."

"Several awards are given out each year, six all together," said Waley. "They are coaches, service and media awards. There is one President's Award given each year. I am thrilled and honored that they have chosen me to receive this award. I am excited about the whole event."

For the past three years, Biomet has been a major sponsor for the Indiana North-South All-Star football game.

"About two or three years ago, Phil Jensen was a coach for the All-Star game, and there was one player from Warsaw (1998 graduate Derrick Duncan) who made the team," said Land. "That player had a parent who worked at Biomet, and Biomet became a sponsor."

"I was one of the key contacts when they approached me about Biomet helping to sponsor the event," said Waley. "(Biomet CEO) Dane (Miller) and I looked into it and saw the number of people it reached and felt that it would be a worthy cause to work with."

"Biomet supports the entire event and feels very strongly about events such as the All-Star game. Biomet is a very team-oriented company. The All-Star game is a good message to send to athletes. It is a great way to showcase teamwork. It helps players realize that they need to depend on each other and use teamwork to be successful. Those are skills that the players will need when they move on to the business world."

"Biomet has been the leading corporate sponsor for the past three years," said Jensen. "It's a neat thing for Warsaw. Not only is there a player from Warsaw in the game, there is a company from Warsaw willing to to help with the sponsorship.

"Biomet is not only supporting the game, more importantly, they are supporting two great causes, Camp Riley and the Indiana Football Hall Of Fame."

"The amount of money we raise depends on the crowd that attends the game," said Land.

"We expect to raise between $5000-8000, but without Biomet's help as a major sponsor, we would only be able to donate between $3000-$5000."

Now the All-Star game is known as the Biomet North-South All-Star game, and Waley is a key reason for the sponsorship.

"I am very passionate about things that involve children," said Waley. "I'm sure those senior boys would not like to be called children, but I feel very strongly about things like this.

"This is also an event where people must depend on each other to reach a common goal, not just one person is responsible for the outcome.

"It's is also a great learning experience. The players get to be involved in a charity event. They are exposed to a children's charity through Camp Riley, and it is something they will carry with them for a lifetime. They get a world of experience."

Waley will be honored at a banquet in Indianapolis tonight, and she will be presented with an award football at halftime of Saturday's game.