Chargers’ Change Maker Freeney Cooking with San Diego All Stars

A change maker is someone that creates inspiration, youth mentoring and makes collaboration with the community a priority.

Chargers #93 Dwight Freeney, has proven in his short time in San Diego that he is a change maker. Although Freeney was hurt in the second quarter of San Diego’s 30-21 victory against Dallas on Sunday (with a torn quadriceps muscle) it is not stopping him from encouraging others.

“The hospital and the doctors didn’t know what was wrong with me, so I was pulled out of school. Finally, I was told I had a lacerated spleen and I would be out for the season. I thought to myself… there are two roads I can take. One, I could quit and feel sorry for myself or keep on fighting. I was 40 pounds lighter and could barely walk. This is an example of fighting back for your dreams. I fought back to get on the field and I came back stronger.  If I didn’t fight through adversity, I wouldn’t be sitting here today, trying to inspire and encourage you guys make the right decisions,” said Freeney.

Freeney invited 10 kids from the After School All-Stars  (ASAS) youth from Monarch School (for Homeless Youth)  to come and make pizzas at Monello an Italian restaurant in Little Italy. Freeney wanted to  foster a passion for healthy, active lifestyles as part of the “Sports as a Hook” initiative. This new ASAS pilot program blends youth interest in sports with healthy cooking, nutritional education and urban gardening in fun learning environments to combat the childhood obesity epidemic.

The Super Bowl champion and Pro Bowl linebacker grew up in Hartford, Connecticut and was a four sport letterman; basketball, baseball, soccer, and of course football.

Freeney said that he was involved in sports to stay away from getting into bad activities and the people who where involved in those activities. He went on to say he was lucky enough to have both of his parents at home, which also helped him get the support he needed to keep him away from poor decision making. When Freeney talked to the kids about his childhood he spoke about adversity and hanging out with the right people. “When you’re a teenager, kids tell you that they are doing cools things, but those cool things are the ones that get you in trouble.” Wearing a chef hat himself, Freeney interacted with kids helping them create their gourmet creations during the  hands-on cooking lesson. Each time the Charger’s star spoke the kid’s faces lit up. Watch a quick video here of

When the cooking was done, the star food team sat-down with a foodie career panel including Freeney, Monello Restaurant Executive Chef Fabrizio Cavalini, and San Diego Magazine food editor Troy Johnson. When asked what he thinks about what the kids where going through and his facial expression changed. “It breaks my heart. I want to help them all but I will start with these guys in After School Allstars today and try and help encourage them this year to make the right decisions in life.” Whether put on injured reserve (IR) or sidelined for a couple of weeks, Dwight will continue to be a change maker on and off the turf, as one of the greatest players of all time.  For more event pictures by Rick Pecjak visit PPI’s Facebook page. For the Latest on Chargers #93 follow @dwightfreeney or visit Dwight Freeney ‘s website for more of his on and off the field projects.  @NFLLindsay and @SDAllstars @TyreeDillingham contributed to this story.