Jason Washington Gives Back

Griz redshirt helps wish come true for young fan

MISSOULA - University of Montana redshirt quarterback Jason Washington has formed the Griz Make-a-Wish Foundation as the result of a chance meeting with a young Missoula fan at Wal-Mart.

Because of that meeting Abby Reimann and her family will be watching when the Grizzlies take on South Dakota State Saturday.

The girl’s father recognized Washington, who thought Abby was sleeping in her father’s arms. But because of a life-threatening illness she was awake but largely unresponsive.


“She can’t speak now,” Washington said. “But she can understand. The disease is starting to take away her senses.”

The press release from UM did not identify the disease.

Christie Anderson, Grizzly Athletics marketing and promotions director, said Washington came to her office and was “just adamant that we do something for this family.” Washington, sitting out the season while recovering from off-season shoulder surgery, said that because he can’t contribute on the field he’s using his time to help out in the community.

“Hopefully we can help make one of her last days a little bit brighter,” he said. “Kids in Missoula idolize the Griz.”

Abby and her family will have pre-game passes to be on the field during warmups and will receive shirts, hats and goodie bags courtesy of the UM bookstore and the president’s office.

Washington, from Oakland, Calif., has donated his player tickets to his new foundation since his family isn’t in the area to attend games. He and Anderson will try to find a family in need of a boost for each home game and are looking for candidates through Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane, Wash.

Good for Jason. It makes me proud to see players do something like this. With so many media outlets reporting nothing but stories about the dark side (coughchroniclecough), I thought I would post something that reflects well on universities and it's student athletes for once.