Green Bay Packers ILB Sam Barrington is a humanitarian. The proof is evidenced by his numerous awards for community service, most recently the 2016 Pop Warner Humanitarian Award, as well as last years Packers’ Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.
Earlier this month Barrington took another charitable step.
On June 11 Barrington partnered with the Van Duzer Foundation to bring the First Step program to the Justina Road Elementary School Park in his hometown of Jacksonville, Florida.
The community-building event, which was free and open to the public was the first for the foundation, which plans to take the program nationwide.
Joining Barrington were state representatives Mia Jones and Larry Lee, Jr. (St. Lucie County); Sheriff Ken Mascara, Christina Phillips president of Precision Sports Management firm. The community gathered at the park to play some informal ball, learn about the program and enjoy refreshments by First Step.
Big thanks 2 entire team from @CityPortStLucie,@Ft_Pierce Mayor Linda Hudson, Sheriff coming up 2 support @CityofJax pic.twitter.com/kip8WDnRTZ
— Precision Sports (@PrecisionSport_) June 13, 2016
Founded in 2015, the First Step program has its roots in the once high-crime Garden Terrace community of Fort Pierce, Florida nicknamed “Little Vietnam”. Concerned citizens Scott Van Duzer, a pizza shop owner, and St. Lucie County Sheriff, Ken Mascara wanted to change the neighborhoods culture of violence. Together the pair began visiting the area on Tuesdays, bringing a football, pizza and friends to a neglected playground in the area.
Kids of all ages and from all walks of life began coming out to the gatherings. Since the First Step program began crime rates in the area have dropped significantly.
“Statistics recently released show the crime rates in the community have dropped by nearly fifty percent,” Van Duzer said. “And what’s amazing is the relationships that have developed between members of the community, law enforcement officers, and the residents and children of the Garden Terrace neighborhood.”
The success of First Step caught the attention of Precision Sport Management, sports memorabilia store Palm Beach Autographs, and SamBarrington who brought along his endorsement as well as support from other NFL stars who have committed to helping take the program national such as: Miami Dolphins S Michael Thomas, Green Bay Packers TE Jared Cook, Dallas Cowboys DE Jeremy Mincey, Los Angeles Rams CB Coty Sensabaugh and Buffalo Bills S Jonathan Meeks.
“It’s important to remember that we all share the responsibility of giving back and specifically making contributions of our time to the community we belong to,” Barrington told the NFLPA. “It is because of individuals who sacrificed their time to help me that I am here today. I want to be able to do the same as the people who believed in me.”
In addition to First Step, Barrington he is hosting his first annual free football camp on July 16 for all kids ages six through 17 at Terry Parker High School in Jacksonville.
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