The upcoming Whitefish Winter Classic will be the 30th and final edition, according to organizers.
The beloved annual fundraiser, one of the longest running and most successful charity events in the state, is March 5-8 with an impressive lineup of NFL players slated to participate.
Doug Betters, a former All-Pro Miami Dolphin who founded the event in 1985, announced in early February that this year’s Classic would be his last as host, and now it has been determined that this will be the final four-day Winter Classic.
“This will be the last Winter Classic,” Betters said. “We don’t have any plans to do another Winter Classic.”
The event’s charitable organization, For The Children, will keep going strong and continue to aid kids in need of medical care outside the state. The organization is expanding its reach beyond the Flathead Valley and Lincoln County and will be accepting applications from families across the state thanks to a large donation recently. The Whitefish Winter Classic has raised nearly $2 million for local children since 1985.
While there are not any plans to host another weekend Winter Classic, Betters said there could be smaller events in the future, such as an NFL Play 60 program or charity golf tournament to support For The Children.
But for now, this is it for the Winter Classic and its tradition of welcoming NFL players and celebrities to the Flathead Valley for a weekend of festivities.
This year’s event has an impressive crew of NFL players with ties to Montana, including Brock Coyle, a linebacker with the Seattle Seahawks, Colt Anderson, a free safety with the Indianapolis Colts, Dane Fletcher, a linebacker with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jordan Tripp, a linebacker with the Miami Dolphins, Chase Reynolds, a running back with the St. Louis Rams, and Marc Mariani, a wide receiver and return specialist with the Chicago Bears. Other names slated to attend include Haloti Ngata, a defensive end with the Baltimore Ravens, former NFL safety Tim Hauck, University of Montana head coach Bob Stitt and assistant coach Justin Green and professional bull rider Beau Hill.
The Classic will begin in Whitefish March 5, with the Poker Run from 7-9 p.m. Participants pick up a card at each participating bar in downtown and collect five, trying to get the best hand in town.
On March 6, families will be able to meet the players from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Summit at Whitefish Mountain Resort. From 5:30-7 p.m., kids can participate in the NFL Play 60 program at Whitefish High School, playing activities with the players for free. Saturday night will feature the gala dinner and auction at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake, from 5:30-10 p.m. The evening will include several high-profile auction items, including tickets to The Master’s Golf Tournament that include a place to stay and two passes to the prestigious PGA tournament, and a jacket signed by all Green Bay Packers Hall of Famers. There will also be a football signed by John Elway and Peyton Manning up for grabs and other top-notch items.
Tickets are still available for the gala. Call 249-6055.
On Sunday morning, the Whitefish Lake Restaurant at the Golf Course will host the gourmet champagne brunch from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“We’ll have some fun, like we always do,” Betters said.
“We’re not sure what the future will hold but things are good and we’re ending on a happy note.”
For more information about the Whitefish Winter Classic, visit http://whitefishwinterclassic.org.