Spreading Our Wings

In an effort to promote youth football and physical activity, the Atlanta Falcons Community Relations department visited Columbus and Macon last week and put on an Atlanta Falcons Gatorade Junior Training Camp.

Over the course of three days, the Falcons put on four camps in these locations.

These camps were held at local park and recreation departments as well as summer camps in the area.  Each camps last typically for about 90 minutes and gives children a chance to learn about basic football techniques, the benefits of being physical active and proper hydration. Over 300 children got a chance to experience the Atlanta Falcons Gatorade Junior Training Camp.

Special Operations Manager for the Macon-Bibb County Parks & Recreation Department Reggie Moore enjoys the camp and feels there is a lot of benefit to the Falcons hosting these camps.

“This is probably the fifth time the Falcons have been down here in the past two years putting on the Gatorade Junior Training Camp,” Moore said. “The kids get a lot from these camps and love the chance to do some of the drills that a lot of the Falcons players do during the season to prepare for a game.  Best part about these camps is anybody can participate and they don’t have to have any football experience.  It’s a great camp to expose children to football.”

To learn more about the Atlanta Falcons Gatorade Junior Training Camp program, click here.

kyla Youth Football Gatorade Junior Training Camp, Youth Football

Over the past three weeks, the National Football League hosted six local High School Player Development (H.S.P.D) sessions throughout the state of Georgia.  Since its inception in 2001, the NFL’s nationwide H.S.P.D. program has provided participants with a curriculum that focuses on inspiring excellence in the classroom, community, and on the playing field.  The program is free for students and participation in the program included more than 15,000 high schoolers in 29 states nationwide. The character development portion included guest speakers, including NFL players and coaches, practical life lessons, preparation for standardized tests, and discussions on life after high school.  For the first time this year, members of the National Guard, who sponsored the H.S.P.D. program nationally, had the opportunity to participate in the H.S.P.D. sessions, supporting coaches on site and speaking to young people about personal development and community service.

Seminole, Hall, Gwinnett, Dekalb, Fulton and Cobb were the six counties who participated in the program.  Each location participated in character development sessions as well as a 7 on 7 passing league tournament.  These local programs focused on character development and specific skill training, designed to equip participating student athletes with valuable tools on and off the field.

Each high school team who participated in the program had an opportunity to move onto the South Regional H.S.P.D. 7 on 7 tournament at Hallford Stadium in Clarkston, GA on June 20.  In order to move on to the regional tournament, they needed to win their local tournament in their county.  After some highly competitive games, the six high school teams who won their local tournaments were, Calhoun County, Cedar Grove, Grady, Miller Grove, North Cobb and North Gwinnett.  These teams competed in the South Regional H.S.P.D. 7 on 7 tournament on June 20 with an opportunity to move onto to compete in the national tournament in Minneapolis, MN, July 9 – 12.

North Cobb High School won the South Regional tournament and will represent the Atlanta Falcons at the national tournament in Minneapolis.

kyla Miscellaneous HSPD and 7 on 7

The Atlanta Falcons Rookie Club hit the bowling lanes this past week in an effort to help raise funds for United Healthcare Children’s Foundation.  The inaugural bowling event hosted at the Brunswick Zone in Norcross, gave the players an opportunity to bowl and mingle with United Healthcare employees and their associates. 

“We are glad we could be a part of this great event,” safety William Moore said.  “United Healthcare is a valued partner with the Falcons and we are excited we could come out and support this worthy cause.  It also gives me a chance to work on my bowling.”

The United Healthcare Children’s Foundation is dedicated to improving the clinical condition or quality of life for children.

Click here to check out video on the event, Rookie Club Bowling Event.

kyla Appearance Brunswick Zone, Rashad Bobino, rookie club, United Healthcare of Georgia, William Moore

Atlanta Falcons players Michael Turner, Harry Douglas, Alex Stepanovich and Jason Rader attended a dinner on Wednesday, June 10 hosted by United Healthcare of Georgia and the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Georgia/Alabama for a local Make-A-Wish child named Jake Weaver.  The dinner hosted at Atlanta’s ESPN Zone, celebrated Jake and his family’s return from Jake’s wish, which was a vacation to the Virgin Islands.  The trip which was paid for by United Healthcare of Georgia and gave the family some much needed vacation time.

The players ate dinner with Jake and had the opportunity to play video games with him.

“Jake’s got a great attitude about him,” Michael Turner said.  “I’m glad we got an opportunity to come out here and spend some time with him and his family tonight.  He’s definitely got some skills on some of these video games.”

Jake has been battling bone cancer for the past couple of years.

kyla Appearance Alex Stepanovich, ESPN Zone, Harry Douglas, Jason Rader, Make A Wish, Michael Turner, United Healthcare of Georgia

On Friday, May 29, more than 100 volunteers representing the Atlanta Falcons, The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, Atlanta Falcons Physical Therapy Centers and AMB Group, partnered with Park Pride – a Blank Family Foundation non-profit partner – to organize a collective day of giving back to the community in a key focus area of the Blank Family Foundation:  parks and green space in Atlanta.  Staff members provided a helping hand to revitalize and beautify Vine City Park, Washington Park and Cleopas Johnson Park near the Georgia Dome. 

“One of the core values of all of our businesses is giving back to the community,” Atlanta Falcons Owner Arthur Blank said.  “I’m particularly proud that our associates decided to join forces today to have a meaningful impact in parks surrounding the Georgia Dome.”

Falcons Head Coach Mike Smith and President Rich McKay led the renovations at Cleopas Johnson Park while Falcons General Manager Thomas Dimitroff led a team at Washington Park.  Projects included building picnic areas, planting flowers and greenery and cleaning up debris and litter.

A highlight of the day included the grand opening of Vine City Park, a community-designed new park largely funded through grants by the Blank Family Foundation.  Mayor Shirley Franklin, Arthur and Stephanie Blank, Councilman Ivory Young and others were on hand to commemorate the remarkable milestone of opening the park in this under-served community. 

Park Pride is a non-profit organization dedicated to leading and inspiring action for parks and greenspace. Learn more at: http://www.parkpride.org/. 

kyla Miscellaneous Arthur Blank, Cleopas Johnson Park, CR, Park Pride, Vine City Park, Washington Park

The Atlanta Falcons Rookie Club sponsored by UnitedHealthcare of Georgia visited the Shepherd Center in Atlanta this past Tuesday.  Led by first-round draft choice Peria Jerry and second-round selection William Moore, the rookies along with members of the Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders signed autographs and visited with the patients.

“What a great experience,” cornerback Chris Owens said.  “It was really cool to see how happy the people were for us to come out and see them.”

Many of the patients visited have been facing extreme challenges with some of their diseases or injuries; however they had extremely high spirits seeing some of the new rookies on the Falcons.

One patient exclaimed, “I want a Super Bowl this season!”

“What a humbling experience this was today,” remarked cornerback William Middleton.  “The challenges many of these people are facing takes a lot of determination and courage.  I’m just happy we had an opportunity to come and meet some of them.”

The cheerleaders were also a highlight for the visit as well.  Many of the patients were eager to receive an autographed cheerleading poster and receive a picture with the ladies.

The Shepherd Center is a private, non-profit hospital devoted to the medical care and rehabilitation of people with spinal cord injury and disease, acquired brain injury, multiple sclerosis and other neuromuscular problems.

This marked the second consecutive year that the Falcons have visited the Shepherd Center.  In 2008, the Falcons defensive line visited.

kyla Appearance derek nicholson, rookie club, Shepherd Center, william middleton