Read the full article here: https://annarborobserver.com/including-the-wolverines/

By: Davi Napoleon, mother of local Best Buddies participant

“In January 2023, when Lydia Goff was working on her Master of Social Work at the U-M, she met two classmates: Wolverine quarterback Jack Tuttle and center Drake Nugent (now on the San Francisco 49ers). Goff was a longtime volunteer with Best Buddies, an organization dedicated to ending the isolation of those with IDD by pairing college students and community members with people with disabilities for one-on-one interactions and by hosting monthly events for everyone involved.

Tom Brady was a donor to Best Buddies, Goff knew. Why not invite Tuttle and Nugent to become involved? They were all in and started showing up at Buddy events.

Soon Goff, who has since become lead program manager of the national expansion team at Best Buddies, learned about Hail! Impact. The donor-funded Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) program that compensates athletes for charitable work brings together U-M football players and organizations that include Cancer Support Community of Greater Ann Arbor, the Humane Society of Huron Valley, Hope Clinic—and, after Goff got in touch, Best Buddies.

Goff and Chin Weerappuli, cofounder of Hail! Impact, launched the liaison with a pizza party and field day in July at Lillie Park on Platt Rd. Twelve players joined about thirty-five buddies. “We were able to facilitate that and take care of all expenses,” Weerappuli says. Although the athletes receive compensation, that’s not the only reason some participate…

Tuttle prepared the team for the next Buddies/Hail! Impact event—a visit to the Big House in August. Buddies were on the field for almost an hour, hanging out with the team members who autographed T-shirts and whatever else they brought. They were each paired with a player who “really took the buddy under his wing and made sure they got autographs,” says Goff.”