NFL Players Giving Back
2006 Pro Football Camp

July 10-14, 2006, more than 203 kids ages 7-14 from the Colorado Springs areas had the opportunity to improve their football speed and skills with the help of nine NFL Pros! Seven current NFL players teamed up to help coach this youth camp. They included: Roc Alexander, Broncos; Dexter Wynn, Eagles; Eric Green, Cardinals; Glenn Earl, Texans; Eric Ghiaciuc, Bengals; Brock Gutierrez, Lions and Ryan Lilja from the Colts. Also, two former NFL players helped with the camp: former Super Bowl Champ Dave Cullity, OL, San Francisco 49ers and Rich Griffith, former TE, Jacksonville Jaguars.

For an entire week campers were taught by these pros and professional trainers from Velocity Sports Performance, Centennial, CO, on football and agility drills at the El Pomar Youth Sports Complex Center in Colorado Springs. At the end of each day was an autograph session and time to meet the NFL Pros one-on-one. Each day also included an "Off the Field" talk with the pros about
important character qualities that have
helped them make it in the NFL.

Kids and parents had a chance to meet some of the pros before the camp on July 9th at Mr. Biggs Family Fun Center. As the official kick off of the camp, anyone could enter by simply donating a piece of sports equipment or toy to the Kid's Crossing & local Police Athletic League. After entry, there were chances to win signed NFL jerseys, helmets, footballs and lots of other NFL memorabilia. Also were free autographs, question and answer sessions with the pros, football drills and inflatable games to play with the pros!

With the generous donation of the Classic Companies Charitable Fund of the Pikes Peak Community Foundation, Wealth Wonks, Technovate, Bill & Suzie Kemp, Domann & Pittman and Velocity Sports Performance, more than 67 scholarships were awarded through the Police Athletic League, a Combine Challenge and an Essay Contest. The Combine Challenge was held on June 19th at El Pomar Youth Sports Complex. Kids competed in four drills taken straight from the NFL Combine. The top three performers of four age groups were awarded a full scholarship to the camp. Scholarships were also awarded to essay contest winners who wrote about character qualities like perseverance, integrity and hard work. Sponsors included Mr. Biggs Family Fun Center, Citadel Broadcasting Company, The Classic Homes Company, Dick's Sporting Goods, All American Sports, Police Athletic League, Morgan Stanley, Coca-Cola and Rawlings.

Opportunities were provided for as many kids to attend as possible. So mark your calendars for next summer and don't miss the chance for your young athlete to spend a week with NFL Pros improving their speed, agility and football skills!