Two of Johnstown’s finest are back home, and they are working to make our community better.
Johnstown natives Artrell Hawkins (10-year NFL veteran) and LaRod Stephens-Howling (Arizona Cardinals) present the “2010 Summer Youth Football Camp” at Johnstown Area High School, June 17th – 19th, 2010. 100 high school football players from 9 area high schools have been selected to participate in this free 3-day camp aimed at improving the campers’ football skills, community involvement, and leadership qualities. In addition to Hawkins and Stephens-Howling, the camp will be coached by other volunteer NFL players, as well as local collegiate athletes and coaches. Financial support for this year’s camp comes from NFL Charities and Artrell Hawkins.
The community involvement component of the camp will include participation by the players on June 18 in preparation of the Jim Mayer Riverswalk extension in areas adjacent to Johnstown High as well as assistance with the creation of a memorial for veterans in the Sandyvale Memorial Gardens section of the trail. Work on this section of the trail includes arranging displaced headstones along the trail in a Memorial Wall. The Youth Football Camp is partnering with veterans, the Conemaugh Valley Conservancy, the Moxham Renaissance Group, Americorps, and the Young Professional of the Alleghenies as part of this a the Lift Johnstown effort to improve our community.
“I was very blessed to have a long and successful career in the NFL, and a large part of that was due to the foundation, values, work ethic, and support I received from growing up in Johnstown. I’ve wanted to give back to the community that gave so much to me, and now that I’m retired I have made it a priority,” said Hawkins. “We are excited about our first camp here, and looking forward to bringing the community together and giving these kids new opportunities to not only learn football from the best, but show them at the end of the day success is about faith, hard work and giving back to others–regardless of what career you choose.”
In addition, Hawkins and Stephens-Howling will host “A Night under the Stars with the Stars” on Friday, June 18th, from 7-10 pm, at the Heritage Discovery Center in Johnstown. Admission is $10 at the door and includes hors d’oeuvres and a silent auction, in which proceeds will benefit the “Summer Youth Football Camp Fund” and the “Dave Seidel Scholarship Fund” at the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies. For more information, call the Community Foundation at (814) 536-7741, email info@artrellhawkins.com or visit www.artrellhawkins.com. Additional donations can be made online at www.cfalleghenies.org.
