In 1991, Nancy and Coach Tom Osborne co-founded the TeamMates Mentoring Program. It began with 22 football players raising their hands and agreeing to volunteer one hour once a week in a Lincoln Public School. Thirty years later it has grown to 184 chapters with more than 10,000 matches in a five-state region (Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, Kansas and Wyoming).
As the TeamMates Mentoring program celebrated its 30th anniversary, Coach Tom Osborne’s players, led by co-captains Doug Glaser (OT, 1987-89) and Zach Wiegert (OT 1991-94) issued a Players Birthday Challenge. They challenged friends, family, and peers to donate $85 or $850 to TeamMates.org, in honor of Coach Osborne’s 85th Birthday on February 23rd, 2022.
The challenge was a success as to date, $172,871.35 has been given in his honor. Co-Founders Tom and Nancy Osborne are grateful for the grassroots effort to help sustain TeamMates for the next 30 years. Coach Osborne said, “Thank you everyone for helping us meet our goal of $85,000 in honor of my birthday and TeamMates’ 30th Anniversary. And many thanks to Zach Wiegert and Goldenrod Companies for matching our goal.”
The birthday challenge is part of a players’ campaign that is seeking to raise $3M by June 30th, 2022. Husker Nation and TeamMates Fans can still give to the Players Campaign or Birthday Challenge by going to TeamMates.org and donating to the TeamMates Birthday Challenge.
Attached Picture Cutline (left to right): TeamMates Co-Founder and Coach Tom Osborne; Players Campaign Co-Captain and Managing Principal of Goldenrod Companies, LLC Zach Wiegert; Players Campaign Co-Captain and Kiewit Executive Vice President Doug Glaser; and TeamMates CEO DeMoine Adams.
