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QB Jim Kelly’s presence resonates at charity event

By WTOP Staff

JOHN WAWROW
AP Sports Writer

BATAVIA, N.Y. (AP) — Dan Marino left his Dolphins’ colors behind in exchange for a Buffalo Bills’ blue T-shirt with the words “Kelly Tough” printed on the front.

Anything for a dear friend.

“Everybody loves Jim. I love him too, man,” Marino said Monday, before the start of Jim Kelly’s annual charitable golf tournament. “I just can’t wait for him to get better and get back out here with us.”

Marino, the former Dolphins star quarterback and Kelly’s longtime rival, was on hand in what was one of the largest turnouts of the tournament’s 28-year history. The only one missing was Kelly, himself.

Too weak to attend, the Bills’ Hall of Fame quarterback is recovering in a hospital in Buffalo less than a week after completing radiation and chemotherapy sessions to treat sinus cancer, which spread from his jaw.

Though absent, Kelly’s presence resonated on the golf course about a half-hour outside of Buffalo.

“He’s here in spirit,” said former Bills general manager Bill Polian, who joined Marino in visiting Kelly on Sunday. “And everybody is here to not only aid his charity endeavors, but to show their support for him and our affection for him.”

Bills Hall of Fame running back Thurman Thomas had to stop in mid-sentence to choke back his emotions. Thomas was nearly overwhelmed while attempting to assess the impact Kelly has made beyond football, through his Kelly for Kids Foundation, which has distributed more than $5 million to charities across the region.

“He’s truly missed by not being here, but we all understand the circumstances,” Thomas said. “To me, this turnout just shows the power of how much people care about Jim, and what he means.”

Dan Kelly provided an update on his brother’s recovery, saying the initial prognosis looks promising.

The pain Kelly was experiencing has subsided, though he will spend about another week in the hospital. Kelly will then need between six and eight weeks of rest before having tests to determine whether the cancer cells have been eliminated.

“We’re so excited to know that it’s over and he can now start the healing process,” Dan Kelly said. “We’re hoping it’s on an upward trend from here on out.”

As difficult as it was for Kelly to miss his tournament, there was never any doubt about it being held.

“One of the things that Jim said is, ‘The show must go on,'” Dan Kelly said, estimating this year’s event will raise more than $250,000.

It was before the start of last year’s tournament when Kelly announced he was diagnosed with cancer. He then had a portion of his jaw was removed and rebuilt.

Kelly recovered before follow-up tests in March revealed the cancer returned and spread to his sinuses.

The most recent pictures and videos released by Kelly and his family show how frail he has become as a result of the treatments. What they also reveal is Kelly’s fighting spirit.

Last week, his wife Jill posted a picture of friends and family members cheering alongside Kelly, who held up a sign reading: “Last radiation.”

Kelly recently released a statement: “I’m not out of the woods by any means, but we think the treatments are going well, and I’m going to beat this!”

Despite the recurrence of cancer, Kelly has also been involved in talks to partner with ownership groups interested in buying the Bills, who are on the market after owner Ralph Wilson died in March.

“Kelly Tough” and “Prayers For JK” have become catch phrases and hashtags on Twitter by those voicing their support for Kelly.

“A lot of us who have known him and admired him and love him have been walking on eggshells for a year about what the outcome is going to be,” said actor Daniel Baldwin, one of numerous celebrities attending the tournament. “We’re confident that if there’s anybody that can pull this off, it’s going to be this tough (guy) named Jim Kelly. He’s an Irishman, now, c’mon.”

Former Bills receiver Andre Reed needed only to point at the blue sky above as a positive sign.

“Look at this. Two years ago it was raining,” said Reed, who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in August. “He’s here. There’s no doubt about it. … And we’re there for him. As long as I’m breathing, I’m never not going to be there for him.”

___

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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