YLA In The News

Youth Lifeline America Presents The 2009 McDonald's®
Free Football & Life Skills Camp

McDonald’s partnered with former St. Louis Rams Tight End Roland Williams and 17 other current professional NFL players to bring this empowering three-day camp to 300 students at Harris-Stowe State University from July 11 - 13, 2008.

The camp was unlike your typical celebrity football camp. This camp focused on not only on-field experience, but also the importance of skills needed to make life a little easier. Students got together in classroom settings to learn about healthy eating habits, the importance of maintaining credit scores, balancing checking accounts and much more. The camp was designed to help students realized that not everyone will go to the NFL, but that everyone will face everyday challenges such as those previously mentioned. Successful classroom attitudes are rewarded through participating in on-field activities with NFL players.

McDonald's is proud to once again partner with Youth Lifeline America for the 2009 Football and LifeSkills Camp. Check back soon for information on registering for the 2009 camp.

Here's a Testimonial from Roland Williams who is the founder of Youth Lifeline America.

"Youth Lifeline America was honored to have Neil Tejwani part of our Free Football and Life Skills Camp.  With the obesity epidemic in the nation, Neil’s presentation stressed the importance of health, wellness and proper nutrition.  He connected with everyone in the room from the middle-school age campers to the celebrity entertainers and athletes.  Using his great sense of humor, he inspired everyone to work towards their goals and lead a healthy lifestyle."

-Roland Williams
CEO & Founder of Youth Lifeline America
8-Year NFL Veteran
Super Bowl Champion
video »

YLA Free Football and Life Skills Camp (June 12-14, 2009)

The University of Rochester has partnered with Youth Lifeline America to support and host their nationally recognized, award-winning camp that combines athletics and entertainment with life skills training to enhance the success rates of the City of Rochester's high school population. This camp utilizes current and retired National Football League players, celebrities, and business professionals to educate and inspire campers. The University of Rochester now offers a competitive $15,000 renewable scholarship for YLA students who enroll at the University.

Celebrity Guests Gather for "One Super Weekend" at Athletes’ Performance to Benefit Youth Lifeline America and Honor Braylon Edwards, Deanna Farve, Ellis Hobbs, and Tony Dungy as "Champions of Charity"

(Phoenix, Ariz.) - February 7, 2008

Professional athletes, Hollywood celebrities, and hundreds of partygoers joined eight-year NFL veteran and Super Bowl XXXIV Champion Roland Williams at Athletes’ Performance on Saturday, February 2nd to honor philanthropic sports celebrities and enjoy Super Bowl XLII. Youth Lifeline America, Williams’ foundation, presented "Champions of Charity" awards to four standouts for their charitable endeavors: Indianapolis Colts’ Head CoachTony Dungy; Cleveland Browns standout wide receiver, Braylon Edwards; defensive back for the New England Patriots Ellis Hobbs; and cancer survivor and philanthropist, Deanna Favre (wife of NFL legend Brett Favre).

The evening kicked off with the "Red Carpet Event" hosted by actor and comedian, Cedric the Entertainer, with a guest appearance by NFL star Deion Sanders. The following "Athletes’ Party" featured music provided by hip hop legend Biz Markie. Guests enjoyed a premium bar provided by Bacardi and Grey Goose, as well as food by elite area restaurants including Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino and Hotel Resort and Just Great Food. Funds were raised for charity via silent and live auctions and the free casino night presented by Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino and Resort.

Wrapping up "One Super Weekend" was a game day "Athletes’ Lounge" with a select number of athletes and ticket holders kicking back in comfort and enjoying food from Buffalo Wild Wings, Chocolate Fountain Gourmet, Gatorade G2, Papa John’s Pizza, and Rosati’s Pizza, a premium open bar, arcade games, and the game displayed on plasma TVs. All attendees received complimentary copies of Deanna Favre’s memoir "Don’t Bet Against Me" and Tony Dungy’s book, "Quiet Strength."

Celebrity VIP bags contained luxury items from Pacific Cigars, Exclusively Big and Tall of Scottsdale, Roberto Botticelli, GoBible, Rain Frog Apparel, "Champions of Faith", the Anthony Lawrence Collection, Whole Fragrance by La Dolce y Vito, Ltd., AllPro Relations, Wisdom at Work, Femme Athletic, and Buffalo Wild Wings. "One Super Weekend" was produced in collaboration with event production firm, Empire Entertainment.

About Athletes' Performance

Athletes' Performance, created by Mark Verstegen in 1999 as a refuge for elite athletes, is headquartered in Tempe, AZ with additional world-class facilities at The Home Depot Center, outside of Los Angeles, CA; in Las Vegas, Nevada; and at The Andrews Institute in Gulf Breeze, Florida. Athletes' Performance is recognized as an industry leader offering the highest level of integrated performance training and performance physical therapy and the most fully integrated training system in the world. Its systems have helped to produce the best of the best in sport: Green Jacket winners, Grand Slam Titles, World Series Winners, Stanley Cup Champions, Super Bowl and NBA Champions, Olympic Gold Medalists and All-Stars from every major sport. Mark Verstegen, in addition to his role as Chairman and Founder of Athletes' Performance, serves as Director of Performance for the NFL Players Association, and is a consultant to high-performance companies such as Adidas, EAS, Keiser, Power Plate, Gatorade and GoFit.

NINTEEN SOLDAN STUDENTS HAVE NEW NIKE SHOES!

2/24/09

The Soldan Football Tigers sped across the fifty yard line this past season in stunning new athletic shoes thanks to the hard work of the players and the efforts of several non-profit organizations.  Mentorprises, an organization providing educational support to area schools, and Youth Lifeline America, an organization that works with athletes and celebrities to reach out to inner-city youth, joined forces with Nike, Inc. to create the Grid Iron Challenge.  The Grid Iron Challenge provides new Nike athletic shoes to at-risk youth athletes who maintain an 80% attendance rate at school and a 2.5 GPA.  The program has worked with close to twenty schools in the St. Louis area and has provided over 1000 pairs of athletic shoes to disadvantaged youth.

NFL Day at the Movies, The Express: The Ernie Davis Story

Monday, October 20, 2008
By Evan Ardoin
Special to Stlouisrams.com

On Tuesday of the bye week Rams players, staff and alumni gathered at the Regal Cinema in St. Louis Mills Mall for the NFL’s "Day at the Movies." Regal Cinemas teamed up with each of the NFL’s 32 franchises to arrange a special sneak preview screening of The Express: The Ernie Davis Story.

The film chronicled the life and times of Ernie Davis, the first African-American Heisman Trophy winner, and successor of the legendary Jim Brown in the Syracuse backfield. Davis, dubbed the "Elmira (N.Y.) Express," played football for hall of fame coach Ben Schwartzwalder at Syracuse. The film follows Davis’s incredible journey as a college football star during a period of significant racial turbulence.

Former Rams tight end and Super Bowl champion Roland Williams addressed the audience briefly at the conclusion of the film. Williams talked about some of the film’s central themes and tied them into the lives of the youngsters who had just seen the movie. Williams talked about the inspiring way in which Davis lived, never letting his age, inexperience or even his skin color deny him important opportunities.

As founder of Youth Lifeline America, "Big Ro" as he is affectionately known by the kids, gave each youngster a goal booklet that teaches the values of goal-setting and provides inspirational curriculum to help them achieve their goals. An alumnus of Syracuse University, Williams beamed as he talked about the film, "The Express is the story of a tremendous man and a great American that we can all admire. The inspirational messages in this film can apply to anybody, no matter what walk of life you’re in."

Super Bowl Insider:
Youth Lifeline America Provides Purposeful Partying

While most pre-game Super Bowl parties had entertainment on the brain, one party was determined to give back. Put on by Youth Lifeline America (YLA), the Red Carpet Event was a party with a purpose, asking guests to give to YLA to help provide a future for America’s youth.

The event was held at the Athletes’ Performance Institute in Tempe, Ariz., and was produced in conjunction with event production firm Empire Entertainment.
After walking the red carpet, guests were given the option of two different specialty drinks created by Bacardi and Grey Goose ⎯ Patriot Crush or Giant Splash to go with the theme of the weekend. Drinks in hand, they were ushered into the main event areas, where they could "sink a putt for charity"; participate in a silent auction; and later in the evening, enjoy the free casino night presented by Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino and Resort.

Guests could mingle, sitting or standing, around any of the high tables or couches scattered throughout the space.
Hosting the event was celebrity actor and comedian Cedric The Entertainer, with a guest appearance by NFL star Deion Sanders.

Throughout the evening, "Champions of Charity" awards were presented to philanthropic sports celebrities such as Indianapolis Colts’ Head Coach Tony Dungy, Cleveland Browns standout wide receiver Braylon Edwards, New England Patriots defensive back Ellis Hobbs and Deanna Favre, wife of NFL legend Brett Favre.

Roland Williams and Youth Lifeline America host Red Carpet Events at Super Bowl XLII

January 24, 2008

Former NFL player and Super Bowl Champion Roland Williams, and Youth Lifeline America will be hosting "One Super Weekend," a series of celebrity fundraising events in conjunction with Super Bowl XLII.

Professional athletes and Hollywood stars will join together for three celebrity events at Athletes’ Performance on Saturday, Feb. 2 and Sunday, Feb. 3rd hosted by actor and comedian, Cedric the Entertainer.

Saturday’s "Red Carpet Event" will honor philanthropic sports celebrities, including Indianapolis Colts’ Head Coach Tony Dungy; Cleveland Browns standout wide Receiver, Braylon Edwards; Ellis Hobbs, defensive back for the New England Patriots; and Deanna Favre (wife of NFL legend Brett Favre), for their charitable endeavors at a VIP dinner and awards ceremony. Guests will enjoy open bar provided by Bacardi, food by elite area restaurants, and silent/live auctions.

That night will feature the "Athletes’ Party," where the evening kicks up a notch courtesy of hip hop icon Biz Markie. Plus, guests will enjoy an open bar, free casino night presented by Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino and Resort, and a hip party atmosphere.

For the big game on Sunday, a select number of athletes and ticket holders can kick back in comfort and enjoy food, open bar, games, and watch the Super Bowl on plasma TVs at the exclusive "Athletes’ Lounge."

Proceeds will go to deserving charities in the Phoenix region and beyond, and include: the Boys and Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix, the Braylon Edwards Foundation, the Deanna Favre Hope Foundation, Home Base Youth Services, the Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Valley of the Sun United Way and Youth Lifeline America.