For a second year in a row, Athletes for Hope conducted a workshop with nearly 20 of the Denver Broncos Rookies. Our team had the opportunity to hear a little more about why these players are looking forward to engaging in community service.
Denver Rookie Leon Johnson talked to us about his history of volunteering as a student-athlete at Temple University. Two particular experiences that stand out; a city clean up for Martin Luther King Jr. Day and a campaign to support the purchase of heart defibrillators for local high schools. But he is hoping to make an even bigger impact through his platform as a professional athlete.
When asked why he wants to give back, Leon said, “[People] get to see you outside the helmet. I want to be the person I didn’t always have. It’s our duty as people to give back. What better way to start than with kids?”
Prior to the workshop, six Broncos players, including several rookies, built a playground for the Shopneck Boys and Girls Club (Brighton, CO) in tandem with KaBOOM!. KaBOOM! is the national non-profit dedicated to bringing balanced and active play into the daily lives of all kids, particularly those growing up in poverty in America.
We look forward to working with the Broncos players this upcoming season and beyond!