AveryStrong College Showcase Returns to Washington
Taylor Barton, founder of the AveryStrong Showcases and #brAvery 7on7 Tour (holding check on right), presents $10,000 donation to the Avery Huffman DIPG Foundation and Avery’s brother, Cade (holding check on left) and father, Brandon (holding check at center) and the campers from the third session (Photo by Junior Childress)
The football community has been a huge reason for the success of the Avery Huffman DIPG Foundation.
Even before the foundation was established, the football community largely rallied around Avery during her fight against cancer.
So it’s no surprise that the community continues to make an impact.
The first event bearing Avery’s name after the foundation was established in 2016 was the AveryStrong College Showcase in the Northwest and subsequent events in Southern California and Northern California.
In fact, the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft in 2023, 2021 Heisman Trophy Winner Bryce Young, received his first scholarship offer at the AveryStrong Showcase in Southern California, before he even started high school.
Founded by former Washington quarterback Taylor Barton, he would later create the #brAvery Northwest 7v7 Tour.
Since its inception, Barton Football has donated nearly $75,000 to the Avery Huffman DIPG Foundation with events in Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho and Alaska, over the past seven years.
The AveryStrong Showcase returned to the Northwest for the first time, post-Covid, this past weekend, at the University of Puget Sound.
Located less than two miles and a five-minute drive from Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital in Tacoma, where Avery was diagnosed with DIPG and where she did her cancer treatment, UPS hosted nearly 600 football players from all over the country as well as Canada.
Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer, Washington State head coach Jake Dickert, Eastern Washington head coach Aaron Best and Puget Sound head coach Jeff Thomas joined Barton as speakers at the camp, while coaches from over 25 colleges were there, including coaches from Michigan, Cal, Arizona State, Utah, Nevada, Hawaii, Columbia, Portland State, Idaho, Central Washington, Adams State, Minot State, Pomona-Pitzer, Whitworth, Willamette, Lewis & Clark, Pacific Lutheran, Linfield, Pacific, Montana Western and College of Sequoias.
During the event, AHDF executive director and co-founder, Brandon Huffman, shared Avery’s story with each camper in all three sessions.
Tents, flags, shirts and awards all bored Avery’s name or the foundation logo.
At the conclusion of the event, the camp and 7v7 tour donated $10,000 to the Avery Huffman DIPG Foundation, continuing their support of the foundation, the single largest supporter since the inception of the foundation in 2016.
Prior to the event, Hailey Palmer of Scorebook Live shared Avery’s story: “'Avery Strong College Showcase' goes beyond being just a football prospect camp”, and Todd Milles of Scorebook Live recapped the event: “Top football prospects flood Tacoma to have fun, show their skills and give to worthy cause at 'Avery Strong College Showcase'“ while 247Sports also provided post-camp coverage: “Top Performers from the AveryStrong Showcase at University of Puget Sound.”
Avery always loved watching football and baseball- mostly to watch her big brother, Cade, play.
And while the football community stood beside her during her cancer fight, it continues to fight in her name and honor, carrying on her legacy and giving players opportunities to keep playing the game they love while supporting the fight against DIPG.
#AveryStrong
Avery and brother Cade playing football in backyard in the spring of 2014
AveryStrong Showcase Staff Frank Murdock (left), Marcus Griffin (second from right) and Ryan Clary (right) with Avery's brother, Cade (second from left) and father, Brandon (center) (Photo by Junior Childress)
