“I think Michael had a much greater impact on our lives than we did on his. You take so much in life for granted, but when Michael moved in with us, he made us realize how blessed we are. We viewed life differently after he joined our family.” — Leigh Anne Tuohy
The Tuohy family’s life, as chronicled in Lewis’ New York Times number one best-seller The Blind Side, went on to become a record-breaking Hollywood blockbuster that earned more than $300 million at the box office and became the number-one opening weekend for a sports film in history.
“Sean was an American success story: he had come from nothing and made himself rich,” wrote Michael Lewis in The Blind Side, the best-selling book that inspired the major motion picture. Sean Tuohy married his college cheerleader sweetheart, the former Leigh Anne Roberts, almost 30 years ago. Sean Tuohy was a record-breaking University of Mississippi “Ole Miss” basketball player before becoming a successful entrepreneur and NBA broadcaster. Drafted by the NBA’s New Jersey Nets in 1982, Sean continued his career overseas before returning to the US to be with his father in his final days. Sean became a successful entrepreneur, building a company that now owns and operates 70 fast food restaurants, including Taco Bell and Long John Silver’s. Sean is in his 11th season as an NBA broadcaster for the Memphis Grizzlies, after several years as an analyst for radio broadcasts at Ole Miss as well as national broadcasts for Westwood One and CBS radio.
Dubbed a “warrior princess” in The Blind Side, Leigh Anne is the inspirational matriarch of the Tuohy family. A Memphis, Tennessee native, Leigh Anne attended Briarcrest Christian School and went on to graduate from Ole Miss with a Bachelor’s of Science in Interior Design. Leigh Anne owns “Flair I,” an interior design firm with her mother and partner, Virginia Roberts. Her work has been featured on HGTV and in numerous publications. She has designed for such clients as Peyton Manning, Scottie Pippin, Isaac Bruce and OJ Mayo and was a member of the design team for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Season 8 during the 2010-11 season.
Sean and Leigh Anne are the proud parents of daughter Collins (25) and sons Michael Oher (25) and Sean, Jr. (18). Collins Tuohy earned her Bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism from Ole Miss. An exceptional student and influential role model on campus, she was the President of the Student Alumni Council, President of Student Spirit Committee, an Officer for the Kappa Delta Sorority and an Ole Miss Varsity Cheerleader, supporting Michael Oher—also an Ole Miss student—from the sidelines.
“Who knows where I’d be?” says Michael, who with the love and support of the Tuohys, improved as a student and became the most sought after player in college and professional football. At 6-foot-6, 320 pounds, Michael’s size and athleticism had professional scouts and recruiters pegging him as a first-round NFL draft pick as soon as he stepped on the field; he is now an offensive tackle and first-round draft pick for the Baltimore Ravens.
Only two years after The Blind Side burst onto the scene, breaking box office records and inspiring individuals nationwide, Sean and Leigh Anne continue to make an impact. In July 2010, they released the New York Times best-seller, In a Heartbeat: Sharing the Power of Cheerful Giving, and established their charity, The Making it Happen Foundation which promotes awareness, provides hope and improves standards of living for all the children fighting to survive in the invisible cracks in society. A fun element of their charity is the weekly Tuohy Trivia which offers a lucky winner a $25 gift to the charity of his or her choice. Through both projects, the Tuohy family continues their mission to inspire hope, ignite generosity, and make it happen for the deserving, but underserved youth.
The Tuohy family’s inspirational story has been covered all over the national media including Good Morning America, The Today Show, 20/20, and Huckabee to name a few. They are also working on a new book and potential televisions shows. They are actively involved in many civic and faith-based organizations, including Grace Evangelical Church, of which they are founding members.
At the podium, they invite audiences to go behind-the-scenes of the Tuohy household with a heartwarming message: “In our house, we believe in miracles.”
