Fort Wayne — Hope Through Football, a Rod Woodson Foundation, will host a football camp for local youth and high school student-athletes from July-10. Hope Through Football’s mission is to provide a platform for International and American football players to hone their skills on and off the field. The camp will also focus on character development and sportsmanship, helping athletes learn who they are meant to be as a person.

Hope Through Football, in partnership with the National Football League’s (NFL) “Way to Play” initiative, will teach players the details of the game from the perspective of former NFL players and coaches. This camp will be available in many cities throughout the United States and Fort Wayne, Indiana. The three-day camp includes: Speed clinics, classroom-style teaching of proper on-field techniques, breakout sessions on life skills, breakout sessions for coaches, recruitment tactics, food trucks, and much more. The Hope Through Football Camp will be offered to local youth on July 6-7. The camp for high school athletes will run from July 8-10.

“Everything I have in my life is from football, playing it, coaching it, talking about it on TV and calling games over the radio.  To give back to a sport that has given me everything that was a very easy decision. I started HOPE Through Football to give players here in the U.S. and internationally the same opportunity to live a dream and to believe in who they are like I had.”  – Rod Woodson

To make the camp accessible to as many local athletes as possible, Hope Through Football is partnering with Fort Wayne’s River City Sports, Inc. to provide the camp to youth in grades three through 12. River City Sports is a 501(c)(3) that utilizes sports as an avenue to develop youth socially, physically and mentally through programs that teach and inspire leadership and promote the importance of community service, education and faith.

“We are honored to be working with Rod and his foundation to bring this experience to Fort Wayne.  While helping prepare our youth for the “game of life” River City Sports is committed to providing more opportunities for players, parents, and coaches to enjoy participating in youth sports.” -Willie Burton, President & CEO of River City Sports

Hope Through Football will be holding a press conference on Feb. 25, at the Police Athletic League (PAL Center) located at 2121 Olladale Drive at noon and media is invited to attend. This conference will discuss the Hope Through Football camp with Fort Wayne native and NFL Hall of Fame player, Rod Woodson. All media should arrive 15 minutes early for this event.

For more information about the Hope Through Football camp, please contact Willie Burton at [email protected] or (260) 438-7843.

Hope Through Football is a 501(c)3 nonprofit foundation that provides a platform for local/international youth athletes to sharpen their football knowledge all while learning character and life skills.  Visit HOPETHROUGHFOOTBALL.org or email Rod Woodson at [email protected].