FOOTBALL: 'A Night of 21 Strong' introduces new foundation to help others

Event organizer Grant Farley, a senior at The Woodlands High School, poses for a photo with Joe Anderson, NFL wide receiver, during a 21 Strong Foundation event to raise funds to support high school athletes with brain injuries at Mercedes-Benz of The Woodlands Thursday, Feb. 2, 2017, in The Woodlands. The Woodlands linebacker Grant Milton suffered a serious head injury during the team's win over Austin Bowie in a UIL Class 6A Division I regional semifinal playoff game on Nov. 26, 2016, at Baylor's McLane Stadium. He was taken to a Waco hospital to have emergency surgery, and transferred to a medical facility in The Woodlands in December. less Event organizer Grant Farley, a senior at The Woodlands High School, poses for a photo with Joe Anderson, NFL wide receiver, during a 21 Strong Foundation event to raise funds to support high school athletes ... more Photo: Jason Fochtman, Staff Photographer Photo: Jason Fochtman, Staff Photographer Image 1 of / 24 Caption Close FOOTBALL: 'A Night of 21 Strong' introduces new foundation to help others 1 / 24 Back to Gallery

THE WOODLANDS - With Super Bowl excitement in Houston and people still wanting to find ways to help The Woodlands High School senior linebacker Grant Milton and his family, Thursday night was a great night to launch the 21 Strong Foundation and to benefit Milton as well.

Held at Mercedes-Benz of The Woodlands, "A Night Of 21 Strong" kicked off a foundation brought together by The Woodlands high school student Grant Farley along with co-founder Mel Saettone.

The evening featured two-time Grammy nominated Christian pop singer Tauren Wells as well as appearances by NFL players like Cincinnati Bengal wide receiver Brandon LaFell, Carolina panthers safety Michael Griffin and guest speaker Reggie Brown, a former Texas A&M football player who suffered a spinal cord injury during a game with the Detroit Lions back in 1997.

The 21 Strong Foundation was created by Farley and Saettone with the goal of being an advocate financially and socially for high school football players who have suffered brain injuries like Milton endured. Milton had emergency surgery after a Highlanders playoff game back in November.

Grant's condition improved enough that he was transferred to TIRR Memorial Herman January 12 to begin the next phase of his recovery.

At TIRR he has received five hours of occupational, physical and speech therapy every day. According to Grant's father, Miles, on his Caring Bridge page, Grant underwent a series of tests a week after his transfer to TIRR and was deemed "minimally conscious."

In the following weeks, Grant began showing more signs of improvement. By slightly nodding his head "yes" or "no" he can distinguish between a ball and a cup, he can recognize his name, and knows where he is.

As of January 25, Grant has been breathing on his own and on February 1, his trach was removed completely.

FARLEY WANTED TO HELP MILTON AND OTHERS

Farley was on the forefront of coming up with ways to raise money for his friend since they were middle-school age.

"Grant and I first met on the football field in SCFL and we were on the all-star team together in the sixth grade," Farley said. "From there, friendship took over and we were teammates all the way until last year."

Farley didn't play football this season after suffering a serious knee injury as a junior.

"This incident happened and him being my friend and somebody I care deeply about, I just wanted to help," Farley said.

From the outside looking in, Saettone saw Farley's effort out in public. With her younger son being a linebacker just like Milton, it hit close to home.

"I reached out to (Farley) on social media and I said 'I would love to help, let's see what we can do'," Saettone said. "I met him at a Chick-Fil-A fundraiser and we sat down for about an hour. He said he had a dream and I said 'let's make it happen'."

Thus came together the 21 Milton Strong Foundation.

Statistics collected by the 21 Strong Foundation from Practice Like Pros CEO Terry O'Neil stated that 11 high school football were neruro-victimes during the 2016 season with one fatality.

The wonderful support that the Miltons have received through various fundraisers, shirt sales and a GoFundMe page has been astronomical. The goal of the 21 Milton Strong Foundation is to duplicate that kind of support for families that may not get that type of support.

"Let's do in other communities what we did here," Saettone thought while coming up with a plan.

Super Bowl fever helped set up a perfect time to get the foundation underway.

"It's miraculous," Saettone said. "You have this happen, you have the Super Bowl in town and with The Woodlands being a community that just comes together, it's unheard of."

Farley, who will graduate with his TWHS classmates in the spring, just knew he wanted to do something in life that could help others.

"I just knew I wanted to help people," Farley said. "This is how I'm going to help people."

AN EVENT COMES TOGETHER

During the holidays, Wells, who performed a live set for the guests, met Saettone and Farley.

"My father-in-law saw Mel and Grant Farley in The Woodlands," Wells said. "(My family and I) took our kids to see Santa. They were out selling T-shirts. My father-in-law started a conversation with them and saw what they were doing. He's a pastor, so he connected with them."

A conversation took place and Wells knew he wanted to help.

"I think in general for me, it's a couple things," Wells said. "One, just as a part of my faith, when it's in your power to do good for someone else, you just do it. That's a big part of it. Also, what Grant Farley is trying to do on behalf of his friend and others really aligns with what I want to see in our generation. People stepping up to the plate for others."

The event featured a silent auction that included sports memorabilia like signed football jerseys, framed photographs that were signed as well as footballs and helmets.

The Woodlands Township chairman Gordy Bunch took to the microphone to share his appreciation for his community in their support for Grant Milton and his family.

"God can heal and your prayers are working," Bunch told the audience.

Bunch then auctioned off his personal pair of two Super Bowl tickets for Sunday which netted $9,200 to be donated.

Mercedes-Benz of The Woodlands owner Bob Milner then followed suit by auctioning off his pair of tickets and a VIP parking pass. That scored $4,500 to be donated. Milner's car dealership then presented Farley with a check for $4,410 as they donated $21 per car sold in December (210 cars) as well as other money raised from employees and shirt sales.

Former Lions linebacker Reggie Brown then spoke briefly to the audience about his injury and his inspiring comeback.

The Lions were playing the New York Jets when Brown made a tackle but was unable to get up.

The former first-round draft pick suffered a bruised spinal cord and needed career-ending surgery.

Given a 2 percent chance of survival and a less than 1 percent chance to walk again, Brown overcame those odds.

"I'm here standing in front of you now because I fortunately had a great base of people around me," Brown said.

He had some words of encourage for Grant Milton too.

"Prayer works and persevering," Brown said. "Grant will make it through this."