MADISON- Longtime Madison resident and successful entrepreneur John Stallworth will be hosting his 17^th and final John Stallworth Foundation Celebrity Golf Tournament on Friday, June 14 at Hampton Cove Golf Course, preceded by a pairings party and auction on Thursday, June 13 at the Huntsville Botanical Gardens.

Stallworth, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame (class of 2012) and regarded as one of the best wide receivers in football history, setup his Foundation to raise scholarship funds for deserving students, most of them at Stallworth’s alma mater Alabama A&M. To date, more than a half-million dollars in funds have been awarded to deserving students.

This year’s annual event will be the last as the celebrity golf outing will come to an end at the conclusion of the last putt on the final hole on June 14. The golf may stop, but the Foundation’s work will not.

“Through this Foundation, we’re still going to assist students and keep our work alive,” said Stallworth, who played 14 seasons in the NFL for the Pittsburgh Steelers. “We’re simply going to be looking toward other avenues and other events. We’re looking forward to making this last tournament the best one.”

The roster of celebrities scheduled to play in the tournament this year include former Steelers wide receiver and recent television star for his work on “Dancing With The Stars” Hines Ward. He joined CNN and HLN as a regular contributor in May 2016.

Additional players who are scheduled to play and who have become longtime fixtures at the charity event include Mel Blount, Donnie Shell, John Banasak, Andre Reed and Dwight Stephenson. Stephenson was an All-American at Alabama and soon became an All-Pro and current Hall of Famer as a center. He played for the Miami Dolphins and many consider him the greatest center in history. Stephenson has family members who live in Huntsville, so his annual return is more like a family reunion.

The pairings party is open to the general public with tickets $75 per person or $125 per couple. There is no walk-up admission.

As for the golf tournament, individuals can participate at $250 per player or foursome slots are up for grabs for $1,000. Registration deadline for both events is May 25. Those interested in this charity giving and star-studded event can register online at johnstallworth.com or contact the Foundation office at 256-536-8050.

The John Stallworth Foundation was created in 1980 by John and his wife, Flo, to provide merit-based scholarships to deserving students. The scholarships assist academically gifted, deserving students from diverse economic circumstances. Many of the students are often denied the opportunity to develop their full potential due to crippling financial obstacles.

Stallworth is a four-time Super Bowl champion with the Steelers and retired as the Steelers’ all-time leader in pass receptions. Since his exit from pro football and remaining in the immediate Huntsville area, he has continued his success in the business world owning several companies. He and Flo have made their home in Madison for several years.