The 31st Annual Arthur J. Rooney Sr. Courage House Luncheon
The 31st Annual Arthur J. Rooney Sr. Courage House Luncheon to be Held on Tuesday, November 14, 2023 at Acrisure Stadium
PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Ed Block Courage Award Foundation, in cooperation with the NFL, sponsor an annual luncheon to support Holy Family Institute, a member of the National Courage House Network. Holy Family Institute was established as the Steelers’ Courage House in 1991 by Dan Rooney in honor of his father Arthur J. Rooney Sr. Dan drafted Greta Rooney to serve as the chairperson of this event that has raised significant funds to advance Holy Family’s mission.
Each year, the Ed Block Courage Award is bestowed upon a current player on each NFL team. The most unique aspect of the award is that the winning player is chosen by his teammates. This year’s honoree is wide receiver Calvin Austin III. Austin was drafted by the Steelers in 2022 and suffered a foot injury prior to the beginning of the preseason, placing him on the injured reserve list for his entire rookie season. After surgery and rehabilitation, Austin returned to the field for the 2023 season, completing an impressive 72-yard touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders on September 24th.
Holy Family Institute presents the annual Arthur J. Rooney Sr. Courage House Award to a student, former resident, or alumnus of one of its programs. This year’s Courage House Award will be given to Jai’Noah Martin, a senior at Nazareth Prep high school. Nazareth Prep is sponsored by Holy Family Institute to provide a high-quality education to students who cannot afford private school tuition. In December 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jai’Noah suffered two devastating losses in quick succession – his mother and his grandfather. At a young age, he showed courage and perseverance and he plans to attend college after graduation.
“We are proud to honor Jai’Noah and Calvin Austin with this year’s Courage House awards,” says Sister Linda Yankoski, Chief Executive Officer of Holy Family Institute. “Both recipients demonstrate courage, grit, and determination to face challenges that can lead to growth and purpose.”
The 31st Annual Arthur J. Rooney Sr. Courage House Luncheon will be held on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, at Acrisure Stadium. Registration and the silent auction – featuring unique sports memorabilia and Pittsburgh experiences – opens at 10:30 a.m., with lunch and award presentations to follow.
Members of the media who are interested in attending should contact Joyce Hinnebusch at 412-239-9020 or hinnebusch.joyce@hfi-pgh.org. Those wishing to purchase tickets and sponsorships should visit hfi-pgh.org/courage-house.
