Former Florida Gator, NFL player Danny Wuerffel speaks at Bradenton Christian School fundraiser

BRADENTON -- An NFL player and former Heisman Trophy winner who has dedicated his volunteer missions to reaching out to blighted neighbors and ministering to those affected by poverty will be the featured speaker at Bradenton Christian School's annual fundraising gala.

Danny Wuerffel, who won the Heisman Trophy in 1996 when he played for the University of Florida and has played quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, Washington Redskins and the New Orleans Saints, will headline the gala Feb. 26.

His ties to New Orleans and the work he still does there are a part of what brings him to Bradenton to speak at the fundraiser. Wuerffel's ministerial organization, Desire Street Ministries, reaches into blighted neighborhoods and, through connecting with other local ministries, seeks to build community and unite residents.

Fifteen years after the organization started, Desire Street Ministries' headquarters was demolished by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Since then, Wuerffel's ministry has worked to restore and improve the Ninth Ward.

"We want to contribute to an improved quality of life in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans with the goal of encouraging development, growth and sustainability of the neighborhood," according to the Desire Street Ministries website.

"He really checks all of the boxes for us," said Bradenton Christian's superintendent Dan Vande Pol. "First and foremost his Christian perspective, which is first and foremost for us here. The second is the athletics piece and third piece is he's a Florida Gator. It was a natural fit with his passion for ministry."

As a Gator, he won numerous college football awards including the William V. "Doak" Campbell Award and the Maxwell, Walter Camp, O'Brien and Unitas trophies. He set more than a dozen NCAA and Florida Gators records.

Heidi Sikkema, director of development at Bradenton Christian School, said getting him to Bradenton Christian was all "God's timing."

"The last maybe four or five years we've had some of our donors that really have talked about how great he would be to be one of our speakers," Sikkema said. "The timing this year just worked."

Wuerffel will have his own speech prepared for the expected crowd of 230 to 250 people. Afterward Wuerffel will also take questions from emcee Trevor Sikkema, Heidi Sikkema's nephew. Trevor Sikkema is a Bradenton Christian School alumnus who now writes for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Bradenton Christian's annual fundraising gala typically raises between $35,000 and $45,000 for the school, said Jennifer Calhoun, director of communications, marketing and events.

The other annual fundraiser held by the school, an auction in the fall, usually raises about $50,000.

Proceeds from the fundraisers "sustain and advance the excellent Christian education provided by Bradenton Christian School," according to the news release about the gala. The school currently enrolls more than 700 students and a new middle school is under construction on the campus, slated to open in August.

Tickets for the 7 p.m. event, titled "Heart's Desire" to be held in Wichers Auditorium, 3304 43rd St. W., are $150. Visit the Bradenton Christian School website and select "Get Involved/Gala" to purchase tickets.

After Wuerffel speaks, dinner provided by Chef Doug Hitching's Fun-With-Food Catering Co. will be served. The Bradenton Christian School Praise Band will provide live entertainment, as well.

Janelle O'Dea, Herald business reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7095. Follow her on Twitter@jayohday.

This story was originally published February 12, 2016 at 3:00 PM with the headline "Former Florida Gator, NFL player Danny Wuerffel speaks at Bradenton Christian School fundraiser ."