Notre Dame legend to headline Parker’s Purpose charity event

Press Contributing Writer
sports@presspublications.com

Parker’s Purpose was founded 16 years ago following a serious health scare that nearly resulted in the death of Fremont resident Parker Inks, who was in third grade at the time.
On March 15, 2008, Inks was Life Flighted to St. Vincent’s Hospital in Toledo because of respiratory problems. His stay in the hospital lasted for 30 days, and he nearly lost his life on three separate occasions. (Inks, who has muscular dystrophy and is confined to a wheel chair, can only move his head and his hands slightly.) The outpouring of support from the community helped the Inks family pay for his medical bills, and the leftover money was used to pay it forward, resulting in the creation of Parker’s Purpose.
Parker, who is a St. Joseph Central Catholic alumna, graduated a few years ago from Bowling Green State University and is doing speaking engagements while assisting with the foundation.
His mother, Patti, is a secretary with the foundation.
The president of Parker’s Purpose, Todd Drusback, who is a teacher and the football coach at Rossford, talked about the foundation’s accomplishments.
“It has been an unreal 16 years. We have donated to over 1,000 families with grants totaling in excess of $850,000,” he said. “Because of the generous individual givers as well as our four great corporate sponsors — Express Professionals, McNaughton McKay, Welty Financial and BG Graphics Company — we are able to donate to many who apply. However we cannot give to all, so if anyone is interested in donating or becoming a sponsor, we would love to speak with them.
“Our primary demographic focus is Northwest Ohio. Our supporters live in this area, so we want to give back to those that have been our biggest backers. We want to be able to help more, so the more people that give, the more we can help.”
Every summer, the foundation hosts a football legend to speak at Ole Zim’s Wagon Shed in Gibsonburg, and this year, Notre Dame legend Brady Quinn will speak on June 21.
To football fans, Quinn is as synonymous with Notre Dame as anyone is.
The Dublin, Ohio, native, who played for the Fighting Irish from 2003-06, won the Maxwell Award, given to the nation’s best player, as a senior, and he had a seven-year career in the NFL after being drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the first round of the draft in 2007.
He has made the transition from player to broadcaster and can now be seen on Big Noon Kickoff on FOX, and is an analyst for CBS Sports HQ, covering college and professional football.
“We thought he fit our mission,” Drusback said “And we have not had a Notre Dame guy since Rocky Bleier.”
Past speakers have included Ohio State greats like Eddie George, Archie Griffin, Jim Tressel and Joey Galloway. The big stars have brought in many donors, and the organization only grows stronger because of it.
“The generosity of many people who have donated either of their time or money has helped our foundation grow to what it is today,” said Drusback.
Tickets are $100 for the event, which is open to ages 21 and older.
For more information, contact Drusback at 419-334-7275 or parkerspurpose@gmail.com. Learn more at parkerspurpose.net.