The Central Blair Recreation and Park Commission will hold its 16th annual Community Classic Dinner and Auction starting at 5 p.m. Feb. 28 at the Bavarian Hall.

Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Altoona CEO Scott Filler will receive the commission’s Respected Citizen Award at the banquet, while retired Steelers nose tackle Chris Hoke will be featured speaker.

Filler is an Altoona native who has supported the commission’s efforts as a coach for commission programs and through Encompass (formerly HealthSouth) contributions and sponsorships.

A native of Long Beach, California, Hoke, 49, played college football at BYU. He was a member of the Steelers from 2001-11, seasons in which the team won two Super Bowls, the first under coach Bill Cower and the second under coach Mike Tomlin.

Hoke signed with the Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2001 and did not get playing time during his first three years, according to those sources.

He became a starter six games into the 2004 season due to an injury to Casey Hampton.

That season, Hoke totaled 24 tackles and one sack.

During the 2005 season, he made six tackles, one of them in the Super Bowl against the Seattle Seahawks, which the Steelers won, according to online sources.

In 2006, he played in all 16 games and finished with 12 tackles, and the next year recorded six tackles and half a sack.

He played in the Super Bowl at the end of the 2008 season, a victory against the Arizona Cardinals.

He retired in January 2012.

Over his career, he had 112 total tackles — 69 solo and 43 assisted, according to Pro Football Reference.

He had 14 tackles for loss and seven quarterback hits.

He served on a two-year mission to Belgium and France for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Hoke’s speaking services were procured for the commission by the Beating the Odds Foundation, which the commission has used for years to obtain speakers for the Community Classic.

Former Steeler Rocky Bleier helped the foundation’s Rocco Scalzi in booking Hoke, according to commission Executive Director Mike Hofer.

As of Thursday, the commission had “locked in” 23 sponsors for the Classic, which is a third of the total number of sponsors for last year’s event, Hofer said.

“We’re a little behind last year,” Hofer said.

But that’s not “abnormal,” because sponsors tend to wait until the deadline approaches, he said.

There are five sponsorship levels — from “diamond” to simple ad copy, he said.

A diamond level contribution entitles a sponsor to 24 tickets, three reserved tables and two pages in the event booklet, Hofer said.

There are 24 commitments so far for goodie baskets to be raffled off at the event — with a target of 55 or 60 baskets.

Eighty-seven items have been secured for the event auction, with a target of 95 to 100.

About 200 tickets have been sold so far.

In the past, the commission has hoped to sell as many as 500 tickets.

The Classic is the commission’s biggest annual fundraiser.

The goal for last year’s event was $35,000 to $40,000.

Tickets are $50, same as last year.

Tickets are available at the commission office, 2101 Fifth Ave., and at Grandview Meats, 1544 Pleasant Valley Blvd.

For information, call 814-949-2231 or visit cbrcparks.org.

UPMC Altoona is the primary sponsor, with Prime Sirloin and U.S. Hotel helping out.

Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.