BAY MINETTE, Ala.— The Tiger for Life Alumni Association will hold its second annual banquet Saturday, Feb. 27, at the John F. Rhodes Civic Center in Bay Minette. The event will include guest speakers with strong ties to Baldwin County High School.

Nathan McDaniel, Athletic Director, will provide highlights on the year and the ways Tiger for Life benefitted athletic programs at BCHS. Elizabeth Bridges Byrd will also share ways in which the organization has supported other school programs and discuss plans to expand its reach.

Tiger for Life formed last year as a way to strengthen the bond between BCHS and its alumni and friends.

It has done just that for Russ Long who now serves as treasurer.  “Being a part of TFL gives me a chance to give back to a community that has offered so much to me and my family. My children are the third generation of a BCHS alumni family,” Long said.

He said it’s been a great resource for reconnecting with his alma mater. “Being able to get involved and see the support from the community and its friends gives you a great feeling of pride while offering a chance to see and renew old friendships,” he said.

Elizabeth Bridges Byrd serves as secretary for Tiger for Life and said it was a great first year. “This organization has established structure and will continue to grow so it can further support the school and student body in the years to come,” she said. “Alumni wanting to give back to make BCHS a top school in the state need to be a part of this organization.”

In its inaugural year, TFL raised nearly $20,000 through memberships that went to support various projects at the school.

Long said the organization hopes to continue to grow and expand its reach. “TFL, even though it is new, has great aspirations for monetary support in all aspects of athletics and other programs at BCHS. It helps provide a level playing field for our children and their extra curriculum.”

BCHS Athletic Director Nathan McDaniel praised Tiger for Life and said the group’s support is big vote of confidence for the school. He encourages all alumni and friends to attend the banquet and join the organization.

“Last year, we had close to 300 former Baldwin County High athletes, coaches, administrators, band members, etc. at the banquet. It was an incredible time of reuniting with old friends while hearing our vision for the future of BC athletics,” he said. “We are expecting that this year is going to be even bigger and better than last. In order to accomplish this, we need all of our former alumni to attend this banquet! It is going to be an awesome night that you don't want to miss.”

While official membership packages will introduced at the banquet, all levels include a monthly regular newsletters to help keep alumni aware of activities at the school and the opportunities to be involved. Each level also allows members to provide direct financial support for extracurricular programs such as athletics, band, ROTC, fine arts, among others.

This year the organization sponsored its first Alumni Night at a home football game. The event included a pre-game tailgate party. At the start of the game, former football players helped line the field for Tiger spirit line. During half-time, alumni members of the Tigerettes, Tiger Guard, Cheerleading and Band joined their counterparts in a performance of Tiger Rag and the Alma Mater.

Byrd said Alumni Night was a big hit and helped bring together BCHS alum from across the generations. “It gave alumni the opportunity to relive high school memories and reconnect with old friends,” she said.

The dinner will also serve as a time for alumni to reconnect with one another while vision casting on the future, McDaniel said. “We have a proud history and tradition and combining that with our current and future alumni will be very beneficial to everything that we are trying to accomplish here,” McDaniel said.

Byrd said that’s the purpose of Tiger for Life: unifying alumni and friends to the common cause of supporting all athletics and activities at Baldwin County High School. “It allows alumni the opportunity to reconnect and have a direct impact on ensuring the legacy of our alma mater remains one of excellence,” she said.

For more information about the Tiger for Life Alumni Dinner or to purchase tickets, call Elizabeth McMillan at 251-937-2341 or Tina Covington, TFL board member, at 251-295-0304 or email tccovington@bellsouth.net.