The Legacy League, an auxiliary of Samford University, will feature the first-person account of the story behind the award-winning movie The Blind Side at their annual gala May 2.

Sean Tuohy, adoptive father of Michael Oher, will speak at this year's scholarship gala at the Vestavia Country Club in suburban Birmingham.

Legacy League President Penny Kimrey said they chose Tuohy to speak at the gala because his story is consistent with the mission and purpose of the Legacy League.

"We feel that this inspirational story aligns closely with our desire to give so that deserving students will be able to attend Samford University," Kimrey said. "His story, as portrayed in The Blind Side, is a compassionate story of giving a life-changing opportunity to Michael Oher and receiving much more than he gave."

"We hope the audience that attends or contributes to the gala will further understand the need at Samford and the struggles students face to make this education possible," she said.

The movie was an adaptation of the story of how Tuohy and his wife, Leigh Ann, became Oher's guardians when he was a high school student in Memphis. He later became an All-American football player at the University of Mississippi and was the 2009 first-round draft pick of the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League.

Dinner is at 7 p.m. Cost of the dinner is $75 per person. Reservations for a private reception with Tuohy  and the dinner are $125 per person. A portion of all reservations is tax-deductible.

Proceeds from the gala will fund a new scholarship for students who are adopted or come from foster care to be able to attend Samford, according to Sharon Smith, director of development for the Legacy League.

Reservations can be made online through April 25.

Sarah Waller is a journalism and mass communication major and a news and feature writer in the Office of Marketing and Communication.