Football tournament honors teen’s memory

The Live Like Bryce Foundation will hold its second annual 7-on-7 Football Tournament at Lake Hamilton High School starting at 8 a.m. Friday.

The tournament is one of two fundraisers the organization holds annually to continue the legacy of kindness and honor the impact Bryce Briggs made on his friends and community, according to a news release. Funds raised go toward scholarships for Lake Hamilton High School seniors and other community needs, and since the foundation was established more than $15,000 has been given away.

According to one of the event’s organizers, Brigette Dunn, the $500

scholarships through the foundation are unique because they are based on students’ character. Faculty and staff of Lake Hamilton High School nominate students. One $1,000 scholarship is also given to a student who demonstrates community service work and kindness to others.

“Students have appreciated the scholarships because it has helped them further their education by reducing the cost of tuition,” Dunn said. “These students realize that others notice their acts of kindness and good character. Some other scholarships are given to students already enrolled in a two or four-year college or university.”

In the past two years, a total of $6,000 has been awarded to 12 students. This year, Dunn said the foundation wants to give two new separate scholarships to a football player and a baseball player in addition to the character scholarships.

The Bryce Briggs Memorial Fishing Tournament gave

$7,000 to the LLB Foundation while giving away $9,500 in prize money. To date, the 7-on7 has raised $7,200. Dunn said the foundation hopes to award $4,000 in scholarships this year. Over the past year, she said the organization has helped various youth and community organizations including youth baseball teams, Lake Hamilton football and fishing teams, families in need through the Lake Hamilton Parent Center, and the Lake Hamilton Middle School Kindness program. The foundation has also made donations to the Arkansas Children’s Hospital burn unit that treated Briggs, the Ronald McDonald House where the Briggs family stayed during his time at ACH, and the Arkansas Tech University Fishing Team of which he was a member.

“During the week of his death anniversary in December, his parents honor his memory by delivering monetary, food and clothing donations to various organizations,” Dunn said. “All of these donations have totaled to just over $15,000.

“We have had a few personal donations from family, friends, and local business in which we are so grateful. Giving to people in need, in Bryce’s honor, has been a way for us to bear the tremendous loss we suffered when Bryce died.”

Teams participating in this year’s 7-on-7 include Hot Springs, Fountain Lake, Benton, Mena, Nashville, Mineral Springs and Poyen, and lunch will be provided by Diamond Bank.

Call Dunn at 501-520-8499 for more information.