CLEVELAND, Miss. - A Night of Champions is fast approaching. Mike Matheny headlines the second annual event, scheduled for Friday, August 8, courtesy of lead sponsor Cannon Motors of Mississippi. Learn more about Matheny, the advocate, author, and believer.

In 2002, Matheny served as an inspirational leader for the Cardinals, helping the team to cope with the sudden death of pitcher Darryl Kile while still reaching the National League Championship Series. Matheny was voted by his teammates as the first recipient of the "Darryl Kile Award" in 2003 - an award that goes annually to the Cardinals player who best demonstrates the qualities that Kile brought to the clubhouse every day: "those of a good teammate, a great friend, a fine father and a humble man."

As a philanthropist, Matheny and his wife Kristin formed The Catch 22 Foundation in 2003 with the primary goal of enriching the lives of disadvantaged youth by providing opportunities that would otherwise be unavailable to them. The earliest projects of the foundation included handicapped-accessible baseball fields.

The first field was completed in 2005, and after more than 20 years in operation, the foundation has helped to build three baseball fields and two playgrounds that are accessible to children of all abilities. The Catch 22 Foundation has also provided support to organizations such as the Fanconi Anemia Foundation, St. John's Mercy Medical Center, GO Ministries, Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital, Little Patriots, United Services for Children, SEALKIDS and many more.
 
Matheny wrote and published The New York Times bestselling book titled The Matheny Manifesto in 2015 and his second book, The Dad Coach, was released in March 2025, while also continuing to deliver impactful keynote addresses and working with executives on leadership coaching.
 
In early 2024, Matheny experienced a life-altering health scare when he was rushed to the hospital and diagnosed with a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Doctors told him half the people with that diagnosis never make it to the hospital, a third who make it to the hospital never leave, and another third suffer permanent brain damage. Matheny avoided all those.
 
In an episode on the "Get in the Game" podcast, Matheny underscored the essential role his faith plays in his life. "I don't believe that I'm immune to life because I'm a follower of Jesus Christ, but what I am going to tell you is that I'm the recipient of a peace, I'm the recipient of a grace and a goodness and a love that I don't deserve, that shows its face so much more in these times of things that we don't want going on," he said on the podcast.

Matheny continued, "I want the pictures of my life and the words that I say and the words of God's truth, I want there to be synergy there. I want those to match up. I believe that's probably the best testimony you can share with somebody."
 
Tickets are now on sale for A Night of Champions. Ticket options include General Admission Individual, General Admission Couple, and Reserved Table of Eight. Various levels of sponsorship are also available and include tickets, drinks, recognitions, and more. All tickets and sponsorships can be purchased HERE.