Remembering Big Ben

02/02/2026

So heartwarming to run into Will Stephens at a wedding last night. The 2021 Ben Johnson football award recipient is now a Jacksonville firefighter and studying to be an EMT. Couldn’t be more fitting for his character and his heart for helping others. So proud to see him doing exactly what he was meant to do. 💙

01/06/2026

Congratulations to Parker Sirdevan, the 17th recipient of the Ben Johnson Memorial Award and Scholarship!

This award is given to a Fleming football player who exemplifies Character, Heart, and Loyalty—the qualities that defined Ben Johnson. Parker truly represents what this award stands for.

Parker hopes to continue playing football at the collegiate level while pursuing a degree in Business Management with a minor in Construction Management. We wish him nothing but success as he takes the next steps forward. A bright future awaits—congratulations, Parker!

01/03/2026

💙 Bat4Ben Update 💙
We want to share an update on this year’s Bat4Ben wiffleball tournament. While we won’t be able to host the tournament this year due to lower participation, our hearts are full when we think about what Bat4Ben has meant over the past eight years.
Because of this incredible community, we’ve raised over $20,000 for scholarships in Ben’s honor. The memories, the laughter, the teams, the friendly competition, and the support over the years have meant so much to us, and we’re so grateful to everyone who has played, donated, volunteered, sponsored, and helped make Bat4Ben so special.
Although the tournament is retiring, the mission continues. The Ben Johnson Memorial Foundation will keep moving forward with fundraising efforts, and we’re excited to share what’s next. Please stay tuned!
Thank you for continuing to support and celebrate Ben’s memory with us. 💙

12/29/2025

Rally your team and swing into the New Year with BAT4BEN!
Join us on Saturday at Fleming Island High School for our annual BAT4BEN Wiffleball Fundraiser, supporting scholarships in Ben’s honor.
Whether you’re playing or cheering, we’d love to see you there!
Click the link below for rules, details, and team registration:
https://backyardrule.com/registernow/bat4ben/2026

11/10/2025

It’s time to register for Bat4Ben 2026, our 9th annual fundraiser for the scholarship fund. We are looking forward to seeing all of the familiar faces who support us each year, and welcoming new ones.
Register your team early to ensure a spot!

Our ninth annual Bat4Ben Wiffle ball tournament is on Saturday, January 3, 2026 from 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm located at Fleming Island High School in Orange Park, FL!

05/19/2025

Congratulations to Ryan Kiley, the 16th recipient of the Ben Johnson Memorial award and $1000 scholarship. The award is based on character, heart, and loyalty—traits that made Ben who he was. With a 4.3 GPA, taking all honors and dual enrollment classes, and being a member of the National Honor Society, this impressive young man has a bright future! Ryan will continue his studies at St. John's River State College next year, studying diagnostic sonography. We wish him the best!

01/08/2025

Another successful Bat4Ben Wiffleball Tournament is in the books! Congratulations to the champions, The Dark Knights for the win. Hats off to Nate Fudala of Backyard Rule for another seamless tournament, and to Zaxby’s and Bey-Lei Bialek for generously donating the food. Hope to see y’all out there again next year

01/08/2025

Congratulations to David Smith, the 15th recipient of the Ben Johnson Memorial award and $1000 scholarship. The award is based on character, heart and loyalty; traits that made Ben who he was. The recipients are nominated by the coaches and chosen by the team mates. David is well-loved and respected by his teammates and coaches and has a bright future ahead of him. David will be going on to study criminology at FSU next year. We wish him the best!

12/31/2024

It’s almost time for Bat4Ben, our scholarship fundraiser, and we could use more teams. Even if you don’t want to play, it’s a fun event to spectate. Hope to see you there on Saturday!
For registration and information, visit Backyard Rule:

https://backyardrule.com/registernow/bat4ben

11/11/2024

It is time to register for Bat4Ben 2025, our annual wiffle ball tournament. This is our sole fundraiser for the scholarship fund, and we look forward to another great event. Register your team early to ensure a spot! https://backyardrule.com/registernow/bat4ben