Former Florida Quarterback and 1996 National Champion Wuerffel Will Emcee Classic Pro-Am Festivities as the Executive Director of Desire Ministries, a New Charitable Partner of Ginn Classic!

Panhandle of Florida native Danny Wuerffel, the ex-University of Florida quarterback who won the Heisman Trophy and SEC Player of the Year award in 1996 while directing the Gators to the NCAA Division I national championship, has since found a different guiding light that will lead him to Palm Coast during Ginn sur Mer Classic tournament week, Oct. 27-Nov. 2, at the Ginn Hammock Beach Conservatory Course.

As executive director of Desire Street Ministries, the newest charitable partner of the second-annual Ginn sur Mer Classic, Wuerffel has transitioned from under the shotgun offense to leading a shotgun start for the Ginn sur Mer Classic Pro-Am on Wednesday, Oct. 29.

Wuerffel will emcee Ginn Classic Pro-Am festivities on behalf of Desire Street Ministries, a faith-based, non-profit organization that focuses on education, housing, health, economic development, youth recreation, evangelism and discipleship within select neighborhoods in New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

The Ginn sur Mer Classic will donate a portion of proceeds raised through its Oct. 29 Pro-Am to Desire Street Ministries through the operating, charitable arm of the tournament, Community Charities, Inc. The Ginn Classic will present a check to Desire Street Ministries during its Pro- Am draw party on Tuesday, Oct. 28.

“The Ginn sur Mer Classic is proud to be able to extend its charitable reach to Palm Coast and on a national scope,” Ginn Resorts President Robert Gidel said. “We are impressed with Desire Street Ministries’ aim to develop and rehabilitate Louisiana neighborhoods and we are happy to help our new charitable partner continue in the execution of its plan. The Ginn Classic feels a strong responsibility to give back to the community and come to the aid of fellow Americans.”

One of the most accomplished quarterbacks in SEC history, Wuerffel won the Johnny Unitas, Davey O’Brien, Walter Camp (Collegiate Player of the Year) and Draddy (Best Student-Athlete) Awards with Florida in 1996. Wuerffel guided the Gators to four SEC championships and a 45-6-1 record during his Florida career, where he holds SEC records in touchdown passes in a game, season and career.

Wuerffel, a son of an Air Force chaplin and valedictorian of Fort Walton Beach High School, where he led his football team to the state championship, was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in 1997. He spent three years with the Saints and one season each with the Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, and Washington Redskins. He also played in NFL Europe, where he won the World Bowl and was selected league MVP. In February 2004, Wuerffel retired from professional football to work in New Orleans with Desire Street Ministries and led the ministry’s transition following Hurricane Katrina.

“On behalf of Desire Street Ministries, I am extremely grateful to the Ginn sur Mer Classic for helping us carry out our goodwill mission throughout Louisiana and other impoverished neighborhoods,” Wuerffel said. “In my time with the New Orleans Saints, I became familiar with the needs of the communities our organization serves and have always felt the need to answer to a calling higher than football. As proud as I am of my football achievements at Florida and in the NFL, Desire Street Ministries is serving a greater good by helping people gain the core necessities in life, which brings a greater reward of satisfaction.”

Desire Street Ministries was founded in 1990 to serve the impoverished Desire neighborhood within New Orleans’ Upper Ninth Ward by applying the principles of faith to the problems of modern inner-city life. It has funded programs to meet the residents’ specific community needs and revitalize the neighborhood through spiritual and community development. It seeks to minister to the whole person, sharing the Gospel in both word and deed.

DSM’s philosophy of incarnational service led the founders to move into the Desire neighborhood where they began reaching out to local residents by hosting Bible studies for at-risk youth. Then, thousands of people were still living in the Desire public housing development, known as one of the nation’s largest and most dangerous “projects.”

In an effort to meet the community’s greatest needs, Desire Street Ministries launched programs that include:

• Desire Street Academy (DSA), emphasizing excellence in academics, athletics and the arts, and educating underserved junior and senior high boys in a Christian context.

• An indigenous leadership program transforming yesterday’s at-risk youth into the leaders of tomorrow, while also training future urban leaders.

• Tutoring programs helping neighborhood kids excel at school and prepare for college. • A medical clinic bringing medical services and health education to the community.

• A church plant emphasizing evangelism and discipleship.

For more information on Desire Street Ministries, call 1-866-633-0070 (toll free) or 678-681-3979, or visit www.desirestreet.org.