This week the National Football League Players Association put on their One Team One Community event at Chelsea Pier 62.
The National Dairy Council and American Dairy Association and Dairy Council, Inc. (ADADC) brought in approximately 150 excited elementary schools students from the New York and New Jersey school systems to spend the day learning good health habits and have fun at the same time.
The event focused on teaching children about healthy living and featured non-contact football drills led by NFL players and nutrition information provided by ADADC.
give back to the community
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Harry Douglas and Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Brad Smith, and Bengals wide receiver Mohamed Sanu were there along with 2 current New York Giants, fullback John Connor and Linebacker Mark Herzlich. Former New York Giant and current ESPN Analyst Antonio Pierce.
The NFLPA and the players received loud ovations from the kids as they entered the sitting area. High fives all around for everyone and lots of smiles too. The first activity for the children was to learn about nutrition and the importance of drinking milk and eating healthy. Then the physical activities began.
“Their excitement level has been building here they are going to have so much fun today. And they’re going to play and learn that playing is just as important as studying. You have to do both” Mark Herzlich said
Five different stations were set up. The first, on the basketball court, where the activity was to kick a football off and then go two hand touch a returner at the other end. This made for many exciting and entertaining return attempts, all two-hand-touch of course.
The other stations had relay races, pass throwing and catching, and dummy bags for the kids to avoid or sometimes go through.
well in school, eating right and exercising
Antonio Pierce was especially excited to give back to the city where he played and won a world championship. “It’s fun when you have kids like this that are so excited. They have energy for days. You also have a chance to give them words of encouragement and let them know through your past experiences and let them know if eat right, do well in school and make the right choices it will help them later on in life.”
The NFLPA put together a wonderful event for everyone involved. The children really understood the message about the importance of nutrition and most importantly they had so much fun. At the end of the day autographs and giveaways took place which brought even more excitement for the kids and their parents. It was nice to witness NFL players giving back to the community and bringing joy to kids.
