'Youth are our future:' Wendy's Golf Classic well-attended at Ashland Golf Club

Shawn Crable may be known for his time playing football but his life off the field is a great example of why the 22nd annual Wendy’s Golf Classic was so thrilled to have him attend Friday at the Ashland Golf Club.

Proceeds from the tournament benefit the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, which is all about finding forever homes for children, and Coach Mike Gottfried's Team Focus, which teaches boys 8-18 life skills and how to become a better societal citizens.

Crable played football for the Michigan Wolverines, New England Patriots, and New York Jets, which was outstanding in its own right but Crable grew up in foster care without a father.

He is now a married father with six children.

More: Heisman Trophy winner from Ohio State to play in Wendy's Golf Classic at Ashland Golf Club

"I'm a foster kid and with the mission for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is doing, I was emancipated out when I was 18, I've been in it ever since," Crable explained. "We got taken from our home when I was 5 years old, me and my three other siblings, so it's more impactful for me on a personal level to be part of things like this where folks have given back and created spaces for children who have been displaced.

"You never know where you'll end up, but the start of your life doesn't hold any bearing on where you go once you're in control of it," Crable added. "Youth are our future and where they go and how ambitious our youth are in our cities, that's best where we're headed as a nation, so investing in them early is the key to keeping things on track."

Crable is now the vice president for the NFL Alumni Association out of Cleveland and coaches the defensive line at McKinley High School in Canton.

He also served as a board member of the Stark County Fatherhood Coalition, which provides fathers in the Stark County area with opportunities to engage with their children.

"When we introduce all of the celebrities, I've asked Shawn to speak about his story because he epitomizes the 'why' we support foster care and Team Focus, taking care of mentoring young boys," offered Zane Gross of Wenco. "Shawn aged out of foster care and the chances of kids who age out of foster care and being successful in life is like two percent.

"Here's a young man who aged out, got a scholarship to play football at Michigan, got drafted by the New England Patriots and what's the chances of that? That's the one reason I asked him to be here because his story aligns with why we do this event."

Current CBS Sports lead college basketball analyst Clark Kellogg, who formerly played for the NBA's Indiana Pacers and the Ohio State University basketball team, says he's now in his off-season and is spending time with his wife, Rosy, in Westerville but enjoys giving back.

"And I try to get involved in communities, trying to do things to help uplift other people, and part of that is participating in golf outings like this that benefit charities that serve young folks," pointed out Kellogg, who talked about giving back. "It's a requirement, I think our lives are a stewardship. God gives us life, gifts, abilities, and opportunities to help other people flourish, and whatever we can leverage in our own loves to help other people, maximize theirs or optimize theirs, I think it's a requirement for everybody, not just people who have some level of celebrity.

"Whatever we can do in that regard, I feel a tremendous responsibility and try to help other people flourish with my time, my talents, the treasures that God gives me and this is one small way to participate in that kind of work and effort."

Former Ohio State Buckeye football running back Michael Wiley, who also played in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys, has been golfing the Wendy's for many years.

"I'm just raising a family, I retired nine years ago, so I'm sitting back and enjoying family life," Wiley said. "My OSU brother, Pete Johnson, talked to me a long time ago about just giving back and paying it forward so that's something I can do, and when you meet good people you know good people.

"So, Mr. Zane Gross, Mr. Warren Jones, and Mr. Kip Matteson (tournament directors), all do well for the community and I'm here to support them as much as I can."

A dinner for the golfers and an auction was held following the tournament.

Since the establishment of the Wendy's Golf Classic, more than $300,000 has been raised for area charities.

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: 'Youth are our future:' Wendy's Golf Classic well-attended at Ashland Golf Club