HISTORY

The Suffolk County Chapter received its charter in 1995 and has been operating since and is dedicated to honoring the top scholar athletes in the county for their academic and athletic excellence. The chapters on Long Island have distributed over $300,000 since its inception to deserving high school student-athletes in recognition of their academic and athletic excellence, and supported various nonprofit entities dedicated to promoting amateur football. The chapter partnered with the Suffolk County Coaches Association in 1995 and the chapter has enjoyed a mutually beneficial partnership since. The chapter presents the “NFF Receiver Award” each year at the Suffolk County Coaches All-County Dinner. In 2020, the chapter was dedicated and renamed the James C. Metzger Suffolk County Chapter of the NFF in recognition of one of the most talented multi-sport athletes in Long Island history who went on to build an enormously successful insurance brokerage business, The Whitmore Group. Perhaps James’ biggest contribution has been his philanthropic commitment to Long Island Youth Athletics, which has spanned building fields and athletic complexes to supporting an array of youth scholarships.