KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP/WMOT) — Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning and his wife plan to donate $500,000 to the Pat Summitt Foundation.
The commitment by Peyton and Ashley Manning represents the largest gift announcement made to the foundation since it was created in 2011. The charity was organized to help fight Alzheimer's disease.
Patrick Wade, the foundation's director, says some of that money will stay right here in Tennessee to conduct dementia research.
“(A facility) at the University of Tennessee Medical Center here in town is actually called the Cole Neuroscience Center, and so they do a variety of research projects on Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s and other related dementias."
Pat Summitt stepped down as the Tennessee women's basketball coach last April after announcing in 2011 she had early-onset dementia, Alzheimer's type. She won about 1100 of 1300 games during her tenure and picked up eight national titles in 38 seasons. Summitt remains on Tennessee's staff as head coach emeritus.