Summer camp to offer lessons in football, life
Chip Minemyercminemyer@tribdem.com
— Two local football stars will host a camp this month that teaches lessons beyond blocking and tackling.
When former NFL player Artrell Hawkins and current Arizona Cardinals running back LaRod Stephens-Howling gather with area high school players June 17-19, sessions in leadership and community service will accompany drills in football skills.
“They want to give kids the opportunity to feel a sense of pride in their community,” said Jeanna Rizzo, a Windber native who is now Hawkins’ communications manager. “Artrell feels that if it wasn’t for Johnstown and the people in the community, he wouldn’t be where he is today.”
After starring at Bishop McCort High School, Hawkins played collegiate football at the University of Cincinnati before an NFL career with the Cincinnati Bengals (1998-2003), Carolina Panthers (2004) and New England Patriots (2005). Hawkins now works in broadcasting.
Stephens-Howling played at Greater Johnstown High School and Pitt before joining the NFL’s Cardinals in 2009.
“They wanted to give back to the community,” Rizzo said, “especially to the kids.”
The Summer Youth Football Camp will be based at Greater Johnstown and include players in grades 9-12 from nine high schools – Bishop McCort, Conemaugh Township, Conemaugh Valley, Ferndale, Forest Hills, Greater Johnstown, Richland, Westmont Hilltop and Windber. The 100 participants were selected by their schools.
In addition to Hawkins and Stephens-Howling, other current or former players will take part in the camp, which is funded by Hawkins and NFL Charities, Rizzo said.
On the third day of camp, the players will spend the morning working at two local community projects:
• Sandyvale Cemetery: A memorial wall will be built for the displaced headstones of local military veterans and Johnstown Flood victims.
• Richard Mayer Riverswalk Trail: The trail, which now runs from Riverside along the Stonycreek River to Moxham, will be extended through Moxham and then along the river behind Greater Johnstown High School.
Players will help with the clearing of brush in preparation for completion of the trail extension this summer, said Mike Kane, executive director of the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies.
“Having the kids involved with this project is a great way to connect them with the legacy of the community,” Kane said.
The trail extension effort is being organized in part by the Lift Johnstown project. Agencies involved in the two community projects include Conemaugh Valley Conservancy, Moxham Renaissance Group, AmeriCorps and Young Professionals of the Alleghenies.
The football camp has received sponsorships from Giant Eagle, which will provide breakfast each day for the participants, and Subway and Pizza Deli Six Pack, each contributing one day’s lunch.
The final evening of camp will include a meet-and-greet for players’ parents and a silent auction of NFL memorabilia to support the camp going forward. Hawkins also plans to establish a local scholarship fund, Rizzo said.
