PA Football Camp Helps LFG Surpass $2 Million Raised

Just 12 years after the idea of Lauren’s First and Goal Foundation was conceived, the nonprofit organization announced it has surpassed more than $2 million raised. Its annual high school football camps at Lafayette College and Otterbein University, held June 4-5, helped LFG reach the milestone.

The camp at Lafayette College in Easton, Pa., just completed its 13th annual event for student-athletes entering grades nine through 12. Nearly 2,000 campers from 15 states and Canada received instruction in a variety of offensive and defensive skills from more than 360 college coaches from around the country.

Camper registrations and donations in Pennsylvania resulted in more than $120,000 raised, which set a record. Those donations support the foundation’s mission of funding pediatric brain tumor research and patient services and assisting families living with the disease. As of December 2015, the foundation has awarded $1.6 million to pediatric research, patient services and families.

Penn State University head coach James Franklin was the featured guest speaker this year. He joins the ranks of Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh, Army’s Jeff Monken, and the Houston Texans’ Bill O’Brien who have also spoken at the camp in previous years.

Lauren Loose, the namesake of the foundation and a pediatric cancer survivor, also motivated the crowd with her speech.

"We want to thank the hundreds of volunteers and Lafayette College for hosting another great event,” said LFG founder and Army assistant football coach John Loose. “The weather cooperated again and the record number of volunteer college coaches did a tremendous job instructing the athletes all day.

“We also greatly appreciate Matt Bayly and his athletic training staff who did a fantastic job with help from our sponsor Coordinated Health. Special thanks to the Lauren's First and Goal Foundation Board that put so much effort into this for months to make lucky number 13 such a big time success," added Loose.

The football camps are just one way that people can support Lauren’s First and Goal. Visit Lauren’s Circle of Strength to learn more about additional opportunities to get involved. Follow the latest foundation news on Twitter and Facebook.