Pelphrey Launches Foundation

Arkansas basketball coach John Pelphrey wants to give back to the community with the start of a foundation to honor his late son.

Arkansas basketball coach John Pelphrey said it's not about his family. It's about giving back to the community.

Pelphrey met with the media Tuesday afternoon to announce the start of foundation he and his wife started to benefit children's charties with a special emphasis on neonatal care. The couple lost their son John Patrick in 2003 after he was born with a rare blood disorder.

"I'm nearly speechless at the outpouring of support we have received in creating this foundation," Pelphrey said in a news release. "From (athletic director) Jeff Long and our athletics department, to John Tyson and the Wal-Mart family, nearly everyone we have contacted said yes."

Pelphrey announced that fund raisers to support the organization, Pel's Pals Foundation, will not only help with neonatal care, but perhaps several other ways in the community.

"I don't have the exact script right now," Pelphrey said. "It may be that we help with just buying baseball bats for youth teams or with children that are abused and are in a shelter. We want to help in any way that does support the children of our community. It may be that we help with tutoring. There are just so many needs in the community.

"We know about neonatal care and the tough times that it brings for families. We have been there. That was a very tough time in our lives and you don't forget them. The memories are still there."

Pelphrey announced the dates of a celebrity roast (in honor of his 40th birthday) and golf tournament at the Blessings Country Club in Fayetteville on June 30-July 1. He said most of the spots in a very limited celebrity golf tournament are already full.

One of the major items will be an on-line, silent auction. The highlight item will be two spots in the LPGA pro-am opposite Pelphrey and Arkansas football coach Bobby Petrino. The pro-am spots were donated by Proctor & Gamble. The on-line auction, which can be found at Hogwired.com, begins on June 11 and concludes June 21.

For more information on the charity, or for dinner tickets, or foursome information, contact Laura Brooks Lundy at 859-317-2200, or go to www.pelspals.com on the world-wide web.