Football Camps
ABOUT THE FOOTBALL CAMPS:
Eleven years ago, Batesville native Deshea Townsend started hosting modest football clinics for the city’s youth. The goal was to provide a fun, safe, one day escape where kids would learn fundamental football skills. This year, Townsend’s Pay It Forward Foundation is celebrating 11 years of camp success on Saturday, May 15th with the 11th Annual Pay It Forward Football Day Camp at South Panola High School. Keeping in mind the foundation’s goal of expanding community and health services, the South Panola High School alumnus, NFL Free Agent and former defensive back for the Pittsburgh Steelers will be hosting a community Health Awareness Fair for the second year, to provide free screenings and medical information. The Second Annual Pay It Forward Health Fair will coincide with the day camp at Batesville Middle School.
With two Super Bowl rings, Townsend beams with pride when talking about the endurance and success of the football and cheerleading day camp. “We are honored that the great people of Batesville have continued to send their kids to our camp. We couldn’t do it without the support of the community,” said Townsend.
Youth, ages 7-18 (girls are strongly encouraged to register), interested in attending the camp will need to have their parents pre-register them through the Boys and Girls Club at 662.578.7309 by Friday, May 7, 2010. The football and cheerleading camp will be held from 9am – 2pm at South Panola High School’s football field. Lunch, beverages and snacks will be provided to youth participating in the camp. Participants will be involved in age appropriate athletic drills and also learn about the importance of good sportsmanship, academic success, and leadership skills.
The FREE Health Fair will take place from 10am-2pm and parents who have registered their children for the camp will receive a pre-screening questionnaire for the health fair. There will be local healthcare professionals on-site to provide free health screenings and information on several health issues such as Hypertension, Obesity, Diabetes and Asthma. There will be complimentary Pay It Forward Health Fair T-Shirts given to attendees who participate in the health screenings. The Health Fair is free and open to the public at the Batesville Middle School Cafeteria.
“I am delighted that the Heinz Family Philanthropies, PhRMA, Boys and Girls Club of Northwest MS, Abbott Laboratories, the Aaron E. Henry Health Centers and others are helping. The Heinz Foundation and its partners are creating a Health Fair where all of the children and their parents will receive important and invaluable health screenings. By doing this, we identify specific health problems quickly and give the uninsured a medical home at the local Aaron E. Health Center,” said Townsend.
Townsend’s teammates from the 2009 Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl winning team will be at the camp and health fair to facilitate the skills clinics and interact with health fair attendees. The following sponsors are making the camp and health fair possible: Heinz Foundation, Aaron E. Henry Health Centers, Boys and Girls Club of Northwest MS, Abbott Laboratories, Smart Water and Vitamin Water 10.
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