Virgen: Donahue continues to give back

When Terry Donahue thinks of his childhood and his family he smiles. A quick reflecting of growing up as one of five Donahue boys makes him chuckle.

“It was wild,” said Donahue, a Balboa Island resident whose fame came from being UCLA’s football coach. “But it was really cool.”

Dan, the oldest Donahue, died nearly 13 years ago. Terry was the second eldest, and Pat was the youngest. Those two were at the Doubletree Hotel in Santa Ana to receive an honor that reminded them of Dan, who was quite a character, both said.

The Dan Donahue Center at KidWorks in Santa Ana has been a place for hope and opportunity since 2005. The KidWorks Foundation for Success Luncheon on Thursday was another reminder of that.

Growing up, Terry Donahue said opportunity was a big part of his life and that’s what KidWorks is all about as well, giving at-risk children a chance to succeed.

Donahue said it was about opportunity when he was given a shot to play football in high school at Notre Dame Sherman Oaks, then at UCLA, and then to coach at UCLA.

“All of us have been blessed with opportunity,” Donahue said of his reason for giving back. “And opportunity is what gives you a chance in life, whether it’s educational, work related or family related. It’s all about giving people the opportunity. I believe opportunity can define our lives. How we respond when it’s given to us and how often we can give back to others is really the key to it.”

Donahue didn’t say much when he and Pat accepted a Lifetime Giving Award for their efforts with KidWorks.

Terry simply nodded in agreement when Pat said, “This is completely unnecessary, but greatly appreciated.”

Their mother, Betty, who is 99, did not attend.

“She would’ve been here today, but had to go to her swimming class,” Pat said.

Bob Goff, the New York Times best-selling author of Love Does, also highlighted Thursday’s event. Some of his words coincided with Donahue’s system of giving back.

“We’re not defined by our success,” Goff said. “We’re not defined by our failures. We’re defined by the love we give.”

Donahue also remains active in a different form of giving back, as he’s the leader of the California Showcase, a unique combine for football players who come from disadvantaged backgrounds or who are seeking to catch on to a college because they are lesser-known athletes.

Donahue and his staff usually start work on the California Showcase after Thanksgiving. This will be their third one.

The last California Showcase enabled 131 high school players to earn scholarships to four-year colleges. Basically, the California Showcase is a game-changer when it comes to college football recruiting.

The free, one-day event is set for Feb. 21, 2015 at the Stub-Hub Center in Carson.

The fact that it is free makes Donahue smile. It’s another true opportunity.