Tommy and Katie Bohanon. PROVIDED

In 2017, former NFL fullback and North Fort Myers High School alum Tommy Bohanon started a foundation to help area youth between the ages of 5 and 18 reach their full potential on and off the field.

Seven years later, the Tommy Bohanon Foundation is stronger than ever, and in January reached an important milestone — $1 million in contributions.

Bohanon said the goal was to reach $1 million within 10 years, so to reach that mark three years early is truly remarkable.

“To do what was done was incredible. We’re always trying to reach for more. So now, me and Katie are setting our sights on $2 million in under 10 years,” Bohanon said. “We’ve been able to reach a lot of people. We’re making sure we help as many kids in Southwest Florida as we possibly can.

The foundation has received a lot of help from volunteers and community business partners to be able to reach so many young athletes through events such as his free football camps, Man Up seminars, and his annual softball tournaments to help bring a Merry Christmas to families in need.

The foundation also awards scholarships and sports equipment grants to schools and programs every year.

The Bohanon Foundation is ready to take another step towards $2 million; on Friday, April 12, from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Ranch Concert Hall and Saloon in Fort Myers it will hold its annual Playmakers Tailgate Party, the foundation’s biggest fundraiser every year.

Last year, the event raised more than $250,000 for the foundation to distribute throughout the region.

“The tailgate party will be a celebration for reaching the $1 million goal. It’s like the traditional gala but more relaxed. The men wear jeans and a button-up and women wear sundresses. We’ll have a silent and live auction, live music from Chasing Denver and comedian R.C. Smith as co-emcee with me,” Bohanon said.

Sponsors include Extreme Florida Roofing, Extreme Painting and Contracting and Extreme Demolition and Land Clearing.

Tommy Bohanon gets ready to kick things off during the Tommy Bohanon Foundation football clinic at Moody Field in 2022. FILE

Bohanon said there are still tickets and sponsorship opportunities available. Tickets are $125 per person, while sponsorships start at $1,500 and go up to $5,000.

The Tommy Bohanon Foundation is a nonprofit 501 c 3 organization founded by Tommy and his wife, Katie in 2017 while he was still an active NFL player.

For more information, to get tickets for the tailgate party or to become a sponsor, visit tommybohanonfoundation.org.