NFL & United Way

Hometown Huddle 2010

The 12th annual NFL-United Way Hometown Huddle teamed NFL coaches, players, executives and United Way volunteers to build fitness zones and playgrounds, host youth football clinics, and help kids get active for 60 minutes a day as part of NFL PLAY 60, the league’s youth health and wellness campaign. See how NFL teams and local United Ways across the country participated in Hometown Huddle 2010.

	National Football League
	For Hometown Huddle on Tuesday, October 19th, nearly 150 employees of the National Football League and United Way of New York City brought life to an overlooked schoolyard by installing a new track, painting murals, improving green space, and running a fitness clinic at PS 4 – The Duke Ellington School in Washington Heights. The Community League of the Heights (CLOTH), a United Way partner agency that provides after-school programming at PS 4, also partnered in the event.

	_{NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell helping to paint a mural at PS 4}
	Atlanta Falcons
	The Atlanta Falcons, owner Arthur Blank, his wife Stephanie Blank and the Atlanta Falcons Women’s Association participated in a community outreach effort spanning nine different locations for Hometown Huddle. The visits included four different metro Atlanta schools that have affiliation with the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta and participate in “NFL PLAY 60” activities for their students.

	_{Falcons Brian Williams participating in “NFL PLAY 60” activities with the children at JFK Middle School for Hometown Huddle. PHOTO by Jimmy Cribb}
	Baltimore Ravens
	The fourth- and fifth-graders from City Springs Elementary School were invited to the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore by the Ravens and United Way of Central Maryland to participate in the Hometown Huddle day's event, based on the CBS reality show " The Amazing Race."

	_{Ravens TJ Houshmandzadeh and fourth- and fifth-graders from City Springs Elementary School}
	Buffalo Bills
	The Buffalo Bills Toyota Rookie Club joined the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County and the American Dairy Association & Dairy Council, Inc. for Hometown Huddle at the Buffalo Zoo with kids from the Buffalo African American Cultural Center, Concerned Ecumenical Ministry to the Upper West Side of Buffalo, NY Inc., and the Valley Community Association.

	_{Bills David Nelson and Naaman Roosevelt help kids from the Buffalo African American Cultural Center make healthy snacks}
	Chicago Bears
	The Chicago Bears, United Way of Metropolitan Chicago, Bears Care and Elliot Donnelley Youth Center in Bronzeville, participated in the United Way LIVE HEALTHY LIVE UNITED Challenge for the 12th annual Chicago Bears/United Way Hometown Huddle event. The event aimed at teaching youth about the importance of leading a healthy life as a part of United Way’s Health and Wellness Initiative.

	_{Children of the Elliott Donnelley Youth Center in Bronzville, IL and Bears Corey Wootton, participating in the LIVE HEALTHY LIVE UNITED Challenge}
	Cincinnati Bengals
	The Cincinnati Bengals and United Way of Greater Cincinnati's "Hometown Huddle" initiative was a complete makeover of 20-acre Keystone Park in Evanston, OH. Three weeks of prep work by Baker Concrete allowed the volunteer workers from Home Depot, the Cincinnati Recreation Commission, GameTime, United Way and the Bengals – among others -- to spend the day building and refurbishing the local park to encourage fitness.

	_{Bengals' Michael Johnson shovels gravel for a walkway at Keystone Park in Evanston, OH}
	Cleveland Browns
	As part of their 2010 Hometown Huddle project, the Browns and more than 200 volunteers helped build a new 2,900 square foot play space for the Karamu House, a United Way Services of Greater Cleveland agency. The playground, which was created based off suggestions from the students who took part in a Design Day this past August, features swings, slides, vertical wave steps, a see-saw and a climbing wall.
	Dallas Cowboys
	The Dallas Cowboys Rookie Club led a mini-training camp for approximately 30 fifth grade students enrolled at J. Erik Jonsson Community School, a non-profit community school in Oak Cliff funded in part by United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and Salesmanship Club Youth and Family Centers. As part of the event, the Dallas Cowboys presented the J. Erik Jonsson Community School with a $2,500 grant to purchase much needed fitness equipment. The team also presented the Boys and Girls Club of Fort Worth, a United Way of Tarrant County partner agency, with a $2,500 grant for fitness purposes.
	Denver Broncos
	The Denver Broncos and the Mile High United Way worked with nine branches of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver. Ten Broncos players acted as captains for each Boys & Girls Club Branch team during a fitness walk around INVESCO Field at Mile High. All of the children participated in the NFL PLAY 60 Challenge and were encouraged to participate in Mile High United Way’s annual Turkey Trot that is held on Thanksgiving morning.

	_{Broncos Stanley Daniels jokes around with Miles at INVESCO Field at Mile High with children from Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver}
	Detroit Lions
	Detroit Lions’ players and volunteers from the United Way of Southeastern Michigan helped refurbish a room at the James & Lynelle Holden Club of the Boys & Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan, a United Way agency and showed the kids great ways to exercise. The Lions led fitness activities with all the kids using Mini Re-Charge as well as a new HOPSports system the team provided for the Club.

	_{Lions' mascot Roary stretching with children from the James & Lynelle Holden Club of the Boys & Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan}
	Green Bay Packers
	Green Bay Packers players spent their day off at Tank Elementary School to lend a hand and team up with United Way of Brown County to build a brand new playground. With the help of 15 students from the school’s community service group, city of Green Bay workers, staff members from the Green Bay Packers’ community outreach and facilities departments and United Way volunteers, a new playground structure was completed by the end of the afternoon.


	Houston Texans
	The Houston Texans and the United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast selected HISD Woodson Elementary as the 2010 recipient of the NFL's Hometown Huddle and provided all 214 students athletic shoes and socks. The Texans rookie class discussed the importance of youth health and wellness and helped to facilitate PLAY 60 drills.

	_{Texans Earl Mitchell, Darryl Sharpton and Dorin Dickerson lead a group in lunges}
	Indianapolis Colts
	In conjunction with United Way of Central Indiana, the Indianapolis Colts and Indiana Wesleyan University recently helped to create a fitness room at the LeGore Boys and Girls Club, a United Way agency, as part of the NFL’s PLAY 60 initiative. The 1,700 square-foot room, the Colts Fitness Zone, will provide a fun and safe environment for more than 150 children each day to PLAY 60.

	_{Colts players, along with their mascot Blue, unveil the new fitness room at the LeGore Boys and Girls Club}
	Jacksonville Jaguars
	The Jacksonville Jaguars and United Way of Northeast Florida hosted Hometown Huddle at EverBank Field with more than 200 children from around the city of Jacksonville in a number of physical activities in the Pepsi plaza. Twenty-five Jaguars players led the children in a number of football drills and discussed the importance of being active.
	Kansas City Chiefs
	Players of the Kansas City Chiefs joined children from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City, a United Way agency, for some healthy fun for Hometown Huddle. The Chiefs kicked-off a special PLAY 60 initiative by distributing pedometers to the children and leading them through physical activities. The faculty, staff and children were encouraged to participate in the PLAY 60 Challenge 6-week program and get recognition from the White House for completing the Challenge. On December 14, 2010, the Chiefs will return to the Boys & Girls Club to award prizes and celebrate with those who completed the Challenge.

	_{Chiefs Jamaal Charles leads children in cone drills}
	Miami Dolphins
	Miami Dolphins players and staff joined United Way of Miami-Dade volunteers for Hometown Huddle, to lead more than 100 children ages 5-11 from the Boys and Girls Club, a United Way agency, through a series of fitness activities designed to help young people find new and exciting ways to stay fit for a lifetime.The kids received healthy snacks from Publix and learned about ways to stay active and fit.

	_{Dolphins Ikaika Alama-Francis with children from Boys and Girls Clubs, a funded agency of United Way of Miami-Dade}
	Minnesota Vikings
	Greater Twin Cities United Way teamed up with the Minnesota Vikings and the Minnesota Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) to bring a fun and fitness filled football clinic to more than 100 kids from United Way funded partners, Brooklyn Center Schools and WISE Charter School. Following the clinic the stadium opened to the public complete with games, activities and concessions for kids and families that led to the AAU's football championship opening ceremonies.

	_{Viktor the Viking with children from Greater Twin Cities United Way agencies at Midway Stadium in St. Paul}
	New England Patriots
	Several New England Patriots players were at the Hall at Patriot Place for Hometown Huddle, with children from New England-area funded agencies of United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Meriimack Valley. The players discussed the importance of good nutrition and exercise, led the HOPSports program and created healthy snacks with the children.

	_{Devin McCourty leading kids in the HOPSports program}
	New Orleans Saints
	Several New Orleans Saints players, as well as the team's executive, community affairs and youth programs staff and over 100 students participated in Hometown Huddle. In partnership with the United Way for the Greater New Orleans Area and Mary Queen of Vietnam Community Development Corporation, the Saints purchased brand new indoor fitness equipment for the Intercultural Charter School in New Orleans East, including hydraulic machines designed for children. The players interacted with the students as they played through the Saints Experience and Junior Training Camp's football drills.

	_{Saints Malcolm Jenkins showing a student how to use the brand new indoor fitness equipment at the Intercultural Charter School in New Orleans East}
	New York Giants
	New York Giants players Jonathan Goff, Matt Dodge, Duke Calhoun, and Mitch Petrus participated in a clean-up of the Hackensack River in Leonia, NJ, for Hometown Huddle. The Giants teamed up with the United Way of Bergen County, the Hackensack Riverkeepers and the Environmental Club from Leonia High School to collect waste such as water bottles, plastic bags, stray sporting equipment and other garbage, to help the ongoing effort to keep the river clean so that it can be utilized for outdoor activities.
	New York Jets
	On October 5^th, players and representatives from the New York Jets celebrated Hometown Huddle by renovating the playground at El Primer Paso, a non-profit agency in Morris County. Jets players, along with students and their siblings, teachers, and volunteers from El Primer Paso and United Way of Morris County, helped complete a playground build by installing rubber mulch and a new sandbox in the new play area.
	Oakland Raiders
	Oakland Raiders players joined forces with United Way of the Bay Area, the East Bay Asian Youth Center (EBAYC), and volunteers from UPS for Hometown Huddle at Garfield Elementary School in Oakland, CA. The players encouraged living a healthy and active lifestyle. After relaying the important message, the players led the students through different stretches and exercises to prepare for the flag football game between the 4th and 5th graders. After the game, the students received autographed backpacks full of nutritious food.

	_{Garfield Elementary School students playing flag football}
	Phliadelphia Eagles
	The Philadelphia Eagles and United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania partnered to build a new youth fitness zone at the George Pepper Middle School. The new fitness room was filled with weight training equipment including: a lat pull down, chest press and leg press machine for strength equipment. The room also includes several fitness games allowing the children to exercise and have fun.

	_{Eagles Michael Vick and United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania President and CEO Jill Michal were in attendance to help unveil the new youth fitness zone}
	Pittsburgh Steelers
	United Way of Allegheny County, the Steelers rookie class, along with the team’s United Way spokesman Charlie Batch, participated in bringing the NFL’s PLAY 60 message to Steel Valley Middle School. Players offered encouragement to the kids as they went through an obstacle course, tossed footballs at a target and sprinted on the gym floor. The team gave a grant to the school to help purchase new fitness equipment to encourage healthy lifestyles.

	_{The Steelers rookie class, QB Charlie Batch and students from Steel Valley Middle School}
	San Diego Chargers
	Event rained out. To be rescheduled.
	San Francisco 49ers
	San Francisco 49ers players performed a complete remodel of the San Juan Bautista Child Development Center in East San Jose as part of Hometown Huddle in partnership with the United Way of the Silicon Valley and the NFL’s PLAY 60 campaign. The remodel featured the installation of a Fitness Interactive Technology (F.I.T.) center complete with a Wii Fitness console and Wii games, as well as two computing stations for homework and tracking physical progress.

	_{49ers Josh Morgan plays Wii with fan at San Juan Bautista Child Development Center}
	Seattle Seahawks
	The Seattle Seahawks, United Way of King County, and the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department partnered together in setting up a PLAY 60 Youth Fitness Zone at the Garfield Teen Life Center. The Seahawks assisted with painting walls, moving equipment in, and helping stage the Zone for the grand opening.
	St. Louis Rams
	The Rams, along with the United Way of Greater St. Louis, partnered with the St. Louis Arc and conducted an NFL Flag Football exhibition. The St. Louis Arc is a nonprofit, United Way funded agency that provides support and services for more than 3,000 adults and children with developmental and intellectual disabilities in the metropolitan St. Louis area. The Rams led a group of developmentally disabled clients and staff providers in stretches and exercises as well as an NFL Flag Football exhibition.

	_{Rams players playing flag football with clients of United Way funded agency St. Louis Arc}
	Tampa Bay Bucaneers
	Tampa Bay Buccaneer players visited Just Elementary School to celebrate the donation of equipment and promote health and fitness. Just Elementary received a healthy donation of sports equipment, including a wide range of sports balls, athletic supplies and even a Nintendo Wii Fitness system, from the Buccaneers and United Way of Tampa Bay for the team’s annual Hometown Huddle project, providing the students with new ways to enhance their physical education classes.
	Tennessee Titans
	The Tennessee Titans recognized the ongoing flood relief efforts of two Nashville charities, United Way of Metropolitan Nashville and Hands on Nashville, as part of Hometown Huddle. Both organizations received a $2,500 donation on behalf of the Tennessee Titans to fund continued cleanup efforts. The Tennessee Titans have been instrumental in assisting the Nashville community when the city was devastated by a tragic flood earlier this year. Titans Owner, K.S. ”BUD” ADAMS, JR. made a financial contribution, matched by NFL Charities, for $400,000 in flood relief. Shortly after the devastation, Titans players, coaches and staff members visited a neighborhood just miles from the team’s facility to help with recovery and cleanup efforts.
	Washington Redskins
	The Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation in partnership with United Way of the National Capital Area hosted eight PLAY 60 youth fitness events at sites throughout the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. At each site, a 45-minute PLAY 60/Fun, Fly, and Fit lesson were held for 30 students and their parent/guardian alongside Redskins players. The students participated in a warm-up, fitness/relay activities, a cool-down, and a brief nutrition talk. Washington Redskins players were at each site to help coach the kids through the activities and speak to them about the importance of “playing 60” and leading physically active lifestyles.

	_{Redskins Anthony Bryant assisting fan with physical activity}