August 18, 2011 -
Arena Football League (AFL) Tampa Bay Storm
TAMPA BAY - Despite the appropriate timing of a mid-August morning, this was no return to
NFL training camp, however, as the recently-appointed president of the Tampa Bay Storm had no intentions of making a return to the gridiron. Instead, the nine-time NFL All-Pro linebacker officially opened up the marquee event of the "
Derrick Brooks Camp for Champions" Thursday at Copeland Park, where he was joined by approximately 50 foster kids to kick off the two-day inspirational, character-building workshop for underprivileged youth in Hillsborough County.
As a collaborative effort between Derrick Brooks Charities, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and Hillsborough Kids, the goal of the camp aimed to educate the foster children about topics ranging from how to deal with peer pressure and bullying to less sensitive topics such as the importance of education and how to persevere beyond one's limits to achieve success in life.
"I was extremely excited to come here today and work with the kids," Brooks said. "There is always work to be done in our community and we, specifically at Derrick Brooks Charities, focus on providing opportunities and depositing positive influence on our youth in Tampa Bay."
Joining Brooks Thursday morning were Tampa Bay Storm players Cliff Dukes, Amarri Jackson, Jorge Guerra, Eric Ortiz and Deonte Bolden, who before engaging in various physical activities with the campers, listened along with the kids while Brooks delivered an inspirational introductory speech from the podium at the front of the gymnasium.
Among the most notable key points included in Brooks' message centered around the value of an education and the importance of attending school, as it not only provides a safe backdrop for one's future, but also educates individuals about hard work, discipline, confidence and determination, among other intangible qualities. Furthermore, Brooks challenged each and every one of the kids in attendance to do three things: dream, believe and achieve, which quickly resonated as the official theme of the day.
It seemed to take effect early on, too, as following Brooks' speech, the kids split into groups and headed out with the Storm players for a doubleheader outside on the kickball fields. The friendly competition allowed for the Storm players to split up, as Jackson, Dukes and Bolden formed one team with the campers to take on another squad anchored by Ortiz and Guerra.
While Ortiz made a name for himself out on the field by being the only Storm player with six defensive put-outs and a homerun, it was Jackson who took on a leadership role in the game's last inning to rally his team to a one-run victory. The improbable comeback was certainly exciting for the kids on the winning side, but more importantly, it was appropriately fitting as it tied in with the theme of the afternoon.
"It was a fun time," Jackson said. "It felt good to come out here and be the guy for the kids to look up to. I can leave here knowing that some of the kids out on that field are going to set goals for themselves and achieve great things just through what we've talked to them about today."
Jackson continued to serve as a good role model after lunch as well, as he and Ortiz spoke to the campers in the classroom, providing insight into their own career-paths and the necessary attributes it took to get there. Both players gave personal stories from their own childhood, in many instances which similarly resembled that of their audience, and stressed the importance of self confidence and hard work. It was then Florida governor Rick Scott's turn to take the spotlight, as he followed up with an additional motivational speech and took his time to answer as many questions as the kids could fire at him to close out the day's activities.
"This turned out to be a fantastic day for the kids," said Jeanine Bedell, Director of Community Relations for Hillsborough Kids. "Derrick and the Storm players truly did an excellent job in being a partner who really inspired and motivated the kids. I think together we all accomplished our mutual goal today of teaching these kids what it takes to be successful adults."