Jarrett Payton and Trisha Payton to Act As Family Hosts of Medinah Patriot Day

Jarrett Payton, son of the late Walter Payton, former Chicago Bears running back and member of the NFL Hall of Fame, will once again (along with wife Trisha) act as family hosts for the 2011 Medinah Patriot Day event on July 7 at Medinah Country Club.

Not surprisingly, football is in Jarrett’s blood starting in St. Viator High School and continuing on to when he was recruited by major Universities nationwide including Penn State and Notre Dame.  He settled on the University of Miami (Florida), where he played in five major bowl games in five years capped off in 2004 when Payton was named MVP of the Orange Bowl.

Payton went on to play in the NFL for two years with the Tennessee Titans and the Amsterdam Admirals in NFL Europe, winning the world bowl championship.  From 2007-2009, Payton played in the CFL for the Montreal Alouettes and Toronto Argonauts.  In 2010 Payton signed with his hometown team, the Chicago Slaughter of the Indoor Football League.

Payton’s zest, candor and smarts have transitioned him off the field and into a well sought after radio and TV personality, and motivational speaker.

Payton is the host of The Jarrett Payton Show, an internet sports radio show.  The show, airing weekdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., covers current sports’ stories, personalities and more.  To listen to “The Jarrett Payton Show” visit www.chicagolandsportsradio.com and click “Listen Live.” You can also follow the show’s facebook page by clicking here. Illinois Patriot Education Fund’s executive director Mark Slaby was featured on the show May 20 to talk about Medinah Patriot Day.

Helping promote Medinah Patriot Day is a natural fit for Payton, as he regularly dedicates his time to charitable causes, including The Walter & Connie Payton Foundation.  The organization, created in honor of Jarrett’s late father, Walter Payton, is dedicated to the emotional healing of neglected, abused and underprivileged children by providing tools and opportunities to build self-esteem and encourage a better family unit, giving hope for a brighter future.

Along with honoring his father’s legacy of making a difference in the community, Payton enjoys connecting with children, serving as a role model and stressing the importance of education and character.  Through his drive to make a difference, Jarrett and his wife have established The Jarrett Payton Foundation working with Chicago area schools to implement anti-bullying messages and programs to increase awareness and encourage safe environments for our youth.

Payton’s tie-in to helping children and families fits perfectly with the mission of Illinois Patriot Education Fund to help military families and children, particularly in the pursuit of their educational dreams. We are thrilled to once again have Jarrett and Trisha on board to host and help us promote our cause and we hope that you’ll visit his website at www.jarrettpayton.com to learn more about his activities. You may also follow his facebook page by clicking here and follow him on Twitter by clicking here.