GREENSBORO, N.C. -- It was a casual night of fun for a very good cause.
Thursday, former Panthers player and coach, Ricky Proehl, hosted his annual Blue Jeans and Bourbon Dinner and Auction at Proehlific Park.
The event was a fundraiser for Proehl's P.O.W.E.R. of Play Foundation and the all-inclusive playground Proehl plans to build at the park.
Proehl got a lot of support from current and former Carolina Panthers, like Steve Smith Sr., Devin Funchess, Fozzy Whittaker and Panthers rookies D.J. Moore and Donte Jackson.
"It's humbling, it really is, to see the Steve Smiths, the Devin Funchess, the new era, the old era, and just the support that we have for each other -- and it's reciprocal -- but it's just a wonderful feeling," Proehl said.
Funchess said he's happy to help his former coach with an event that means so much.
"It's what everybody should do is just help the children," he said. "It's all about the children, they're our future, so everything [Proehl] does and puts out in this program is phenomenal."
The Blue Jeans and Bourbon event was the kickoff to the annual Ricky Proehl Charity Golf Classic at Grandover Resort. In more than 10 years, the Classic has raised more than $1.5 million for Proehl's P.O.W.E.R. of Play Foundation and North Carolina children's charities.