Benjamin St. Juste, a National Football League (NFL) star with the Washington Commanders, will host several free events for children and teenagers ages 8 to 18 as part of the Campamento Internacional de Flag Football Delgado 2024 at the Complejo Deportivo Edgar Martínez in Dorado, on Friday, June 21, and Saturday, June 22.
NFL players and highly experienced coaches will take part in the camp to lead drills and skill-development activities tailored to each age group.
The camp will also include a social justice discussion panel, a financial literacy seminar and vaccination clinics.
NFL legends will also participate
In addition to the Washington Commanders cornerback, the football sessions will feature former NFL players Idrees Bashir, Arturo Freeman, Marcus Bell and Travelle Wharton.
The football camp is an initiative of the nonprofit United Athletes Foundation (UAF), which has partnered with corporations committed to the mission of positively impacting communities by empowering young athletes through education and social development.
On the first day of the event, a panel will be held featuring former NFL star Reggie Howard, Benjamin St. Juste and several local law enforcement officials, to discuss social justice issues and the important role of football and team sports in fostering effective community relationships.
A financial literacy seminar will be organized by UAF in collaboration with the FDIC and Fundación Banco Popular. The seminar will offer practical lessons in personal finance management and will take place at the Pabellón Rafael Hernández Colón in Dorado.
Reggie Howard, who played seven seasons in the NFL and made an interception off Tom Brady in Super Bowl 38, founded UAF and currently serves as its president.
"As a former NFL player, I fully understand and appreciate the ability of professional athletes to positively influence society. This event celebrates all the hard work these athletes do throughout the year to give back to their communities," Howard said.
Vaccination clinics will be offered
UAF has also partnered with Merck to offer free vaccination clinics on both days, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Available vaccines will include Influenza, COVID, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Shingles, Tetanus, Pneumococcal, Meningococcal and HPV.
The clinic will also provide parents and their children with Puerto Rico Department of Health vaccine certification, free of charge, a requirement for all students returning for the new school year in August 2024.
According to Juan Leonardo Negrón, director of Public Policy and Communications at Merck Puerto Rico, "as part of our commitment to improving health and well-being, Merck has been a partner of the United Athletes Foundation in the United States, and we are pleased that Puerto Rican youth will have a unique experience with renowned athletes and professionals where they can learn a variety of skills and knowledge that will benefit their future development."
Over the two-day camp, participants will have an immersive football experience that will conclude with a competitive non-contact game and an awards ceremony.
For more information about the event, call UAF at 901-619-2836 or visit www.mphsmagicathletics.org. You can also contact local event coordinator Gerardo Hernández at 787-925-7811 or by email at ghernandez@hernandezgorrin.com.
Cover photo: Jayce Illman Getty Images
This content was translated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
