Driven by personal tragedy, Pelphrey forms foundation to benefit children
Posted on Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Arkansas coach John Pelphrey wants to help those who share similar personal tragedies.
Pelphrey and his wife Tracy announced the formation of their new foundation, Pel's Pals, Tuesday at a press conference at the Fayetteville Town Center. The purpose of the foundation is to benefit children's charities with a special emphasis on neonatal care.
The foundation and the idea hits close to home for the Pelphreys, whose world was rocked five years ago in Gainesville, Fla., when their son, John Patrick Pelphrey, died prematurely after he was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder.
"It was a very devastating time for our family, something that will always be with us," John Pelphrey said. "There will always be a certain level of pain there but, as I said before, out of that devastation came motivation and inspiration from John Patrick."
The Pelphreys sought help from those close in Florida after the devastating loss in 2003. And they didn't have to look far, Tracy Pelphrey said. Head coach Billy Donovan and then-assistant Anthony Grant knew exactly what the future Razorbacks coach was going through.
Donovan's fourth child, Jacqueline Patricia Donovan, was stillborn a week before her due date in November 2000. A future addition to the Grant family also died prematurely while he was on staff with the Gators.
Both Donovan and Grant's wives were fullterm.
And then came the dark days for the Pelphreys in 2003.
"That's how we were able to get through it, because they had already gone through it," Tracy Pelphrey said. "They helped us and we felt it was our responsibility to be there for somebody else."
"It's bitter-sweet to know that we have three children that are in the same graveyard right beside each other," Tracy Pelphrey said. "It kind of sounds morbid but, in our minds, you know, they're together. "
Complications before due dates and visits to neonatal facilities are no stranger to John Pelphrey. His first child, Jason, was born three weeks before the due date. Ann-Marie Grace Donovan Pelphrey, named after the multiple national champion and family friend Billy Donovan at Florida, was born seven weeks early.
"The procedure that saved her life, killed [John Patrick ]," John Pelphrey said.
Today, with the past as a reminder, the Pelphreys have a chance to give back thanks to the opportunity to be with the University of Arkansas, John Pelphrey said.
Most importantly, they can relate to couples who are struggling through trying times.
"It's not easy to go home at night and leave your kid hooked up to a machine and have an IV stuck in them," the Razorbacks coach said. "I can't explain to you what thoughts and feelings go through you."
Pel's Pals will launch on the scene with a celebrity roast, auction and golf tournament in Fayetteville on June 30-July 1, according to a press release. The focus of the roast will be John Pelphrey on June 30 at the Fayetteville Town Center. Former bosses, coaches and long-time friends Eddie Sutton, Billy Donovan, Rick Pitino and Frank Broyles will be in attendance. The event's emcee will be former Razorback Jimmy Dykes, who now serves as a college basketball analyst for ESPN.
The roast will also mark Pelphrey's 40 th birthday.
"I think there's a lot of things that some might find funny that others wouldn't, so I might end up laughing as much as everybody else," Pelphrey said. "I've been very fortunate and blessed to have a lot of great people literally help me get where I am today."
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