Pro Athletes Take Field to Help Native Children

by James Parks, Dec 8, 2009

Members of the Professional Athletes came together in a benefit for Native American children at the union’s recent 14th annual “Evening With the Stars” gala in Washington, D.C. The gala featured a silent auction and a live auction of sports memorabilia and Native American art.

An estimated 1.3 million Native Americans currently live on reservations, and many suffer from poor health, poverty and inadequate education. Proceeds from the gala will benefit Native Vision, a nonprofit initiative that connects Native American youth with professional athlete mentors through a variety of health and education programs.

The union hopes the involvement of pro football players will help draw attention to the challenges facing many Native Americans.

Says DeMaurice Smith, executive director of the Professional Athletes:

We believe in building a strong partnership. Working hard to benefit the lives of children every day is something that will always be our vision.

Each June, Native Vision camps are held on one of the reservations. The three-day summer camp brings together children of all ages and professional athletes to encourage healthy lifestyles and to use sports to teach the children valuable life lessons. Since the program began in 1996, more than 10,000 children and 26,000 Native American community members have been served through the camps and other year-round programs.

The gala also paid tribute to Native American culture with a performance by the acclaimed dance troupe Red Crooked Sky, a collaboration of several tribes. Former NFL great Brian Mitchell, emcee for the gala, said:

I’ve always said that if you make anybody aware that you have an interest in them, they are willing to go out and do things to excel. You have athletes and health mentors coming in for these Native youth, and these kids learn life skills they can’t get anywhere else. When they begin to achieve, they gain confidence that will stay with them the rest of their lives.

The Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health co-sponsored the gala.

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