Dillan and his team at Big Man Big Heart helped to raise close to $90,000.00 for Timothy Donovan and his family through his initial effort at using his Name, Image and Likeness for Good. With these funds, the Donovans were not only able to travel from their home in Dayton, OH to Tallahassee to attend the FSU v. Notre Dame football game and have Dillan give Timothy his day in the sun, but they were also able to make important home modifications and purchase equipment to make his life easier. The City of Tallahassee and the FSU staff and football community rolled out the red carpet for Timothy and his parents – Paula and Tim – for the three-night visit they made last September. The City of Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce worked with Dillan and his team to create an incredible itinerary to show them the highlights of the Tallahassee area. He and his family were treated like football recruits there for an official visit. That included breakfast, lunches, and dinners out on the town in Tallahasse, a tour of the FSU football facilities and coaches' offices which was led by Coach Mike Norvell himself, a Notre Dame alumni association tailgate, and pre-game activities including the Legacy Walk where Dillan stopped to hug his friend on the way into the game, field passes and front row seats to the big game. The visit was such a hit with the Donovan family that they all became FSU fans and attended three other games – home and away – that season and plan to attend six games in Dillan’s final season (2022.) Upon their return home, the Donovans contracted to have Timothy’s bathroom remodeled so that it is now wheelchair accessible and to widen the hallways and doorways of their home for the same purpose. They also purchased a Hoyer lift to assist with transfers as Timothy’s mother, Paula, was diagnosed with breast cancer in November and had to undergo a double mastectomy in early December 2021. After the story of TakeTimothytoTally aired on College GameDay before the final bowl games of the season and the total funds raised approached $90,000.00, the Donovan family was able to purchase a new wheelchair accessible van. The new Superfan Van is much more comfortable for the Donovans and that is why they will be able to travel to so many FSU and Notre Dame games this upcoming season.
