The Taylor Haugen Foundation is set to host its annual Low Country Shrimp Boil fundraiser on Saturday, October 12, 2024, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at 3rd Planet Brewing Co. in Niceville.

• The event aims to support the foundation’s efforts in protecting young athletes from abdominal injuries. Okaloosa Gas District returns as the featured sponsor for the second consecutive year.

The event will feature live music by the band Autumn Poultry, $25 shrimp plates, raffles, and a GIF photobooth. All proceeds will directly benefit the foundation’s Youth Equipment for Sports Safety (YESS) Program.

The YESS Program provides compression shirts with EvoShield rib protection shields to student athletes. These shirts use Gel-To-Shell technology that custom molds to each player’s body, offering personalized protection.

The foundation was established by Kathy and Brian Haugen following the tragic death of their son, Taylor, a Niceville High School student who passed away after sustaining a liver-rupturing hit during a football game in 2008.

• Since its inception, the foundation has outfitted approximately 7,000 players across 18 states. However, funding remains a challenge for many schools. The foundation covers 50% of the $80 cost per shirt, with schools or sponsors responsible for the remainder.

In August 2023, the foundation provided protective gear to all 168 student athletes on Niceville High School’s varsity, junior varsity, and freshman football teams. The organization aims to expand this protection to more local schools through events like the upcoming shrimp boil and community sponsorships.

Those interested in supporting the Taylor Haugen Foundation’s mission can attend the Low Country Shrimp Boil on October 12 or reach out to the foundation regarding sponsorship opportunities for local school football teams.