Page 53 - Southern Oregon Magazine Spring 2018

Nikki Udria, former All American softball
player at the University of Oregon and current
2018 USA Softball member

ike many college athletes, Michael DeLaGrange of Grants Pass Along with his business and personal success though, says DeLaGrange,
had his eye on the big leagues. After a football scholarship took there was what he describes as a degree of frustration that his
Lhim to University of Oregon where he started over 30 games, connections and the resources of his alma mater had slipped away as
his future goal of playing in the NFL was starting to look within his he lost touch with former class and teammates. “There was no real
reach. connection or structure to keep us connected after we leave,” recalls
DeLaGrange.
But then two weeks after DeLaGrange graduated, his father passed
away unexpectedly and in 2004 Michael moved back home to help his In response, several years ago DeLaGrange founded Oregon Athlete
mother run the family’s insurance business. In the years that followed, Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit whose dual mission is to support
DeLaGrange grew the family business, eventually founding Insurance former U of O student athletes and to give back to the communities
Lounge, a unique interactive retail approach to insurance, in 2011. they represent.

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