ATHENS, Ga. — Mark Richt, the former University of Georgia football coach, helped raise more than $750,000 last week for Parkinson's and Crohn's research at the school.
Richt himself announced a Parkinson's diagnosis in 2021. He helped lead the Chick-fil-A Dawg Bowl fundraiser, a VIP bowling event, last Wednesday.
In all, the event raised north of $758,000 from 1,330 donors for the UGA Isakson Center for Neurological Disease Research. Current coach Kirby Smart, Richt and Bulldogs greats including David Pollack and Rennie Curran took part.
“My family and I want to sincerely thank the Bulldog Nation and all the donors who helped us take a bite out of Parkinson’s and Crohn’s,” Richt said in a statement. “I am so thankful to everyone who came out and supported in whatever way they could.”
The event took place at Showtime Bowling Alley in Athens and was streamed online, with viewers contributing $35,000 while it was ongoing. UGA's Isakson Chair for Parkinson's Research, Anumantha Kanthasamy, said in a statement the money would have a "monumental impact" on the school's research.
"We are so grateful to the donors and the Richt family for everything they have done to support the Isakson Center," Kanthasamy said.
Richt, who coached UGA from 2001-15, also has a close interest in Crohn's, which his infant granddaughter was diagnosed with in 2015.
"Those who wish to join the Richt family in that work can visit RichtsDawgBowl.com to make a gift that will enhance the Isakson Center’s work," UGA added in a release.