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See How These NFL Players are Making a Difference

Jason Taylor and Chris Cooley helped to send the Manassas Mutiny Pee Wee Team to the AYF National Championships.

Jason surprised the team at practice one night, delivering a check for $5,000 and gave the team a pep talk. When the team was still $5,000 short, when Chris Cooley heard about the team falling short of funds, he came up with difference!
The Manassas Mutiny made it all the way to the National DI Pee Wee Championship Game and placed 2nd in the Nation!

Terrell Owens Teams-up with Byron Williams and American Youth Football
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Donte Whitner of the Buffalo Bills Hosts His 2^nd Annual Cancer Strike Charity Bowling Tournament and His 1^st Annual Youth Football Mini-Camp Read about it

"Thank You Hines Ward" from  the Coweta Cougars
The kids of the Coweta Cougars "had a total blast interacting with Hines Ward..." and the coaches picked up valuable tips from the pros.  - Coach De'Andre Franklin.  Read more

Brian Urlacher is yet another NFL Football Player who Gave Back a Field of Dreams Fieldturf surface to his alma mater Lovington High School in New Mexico. Brian joins the AYF Giving Back Wall of Honor along with Chris Collinsworth, Howie Long, Boomer Esiason, and Warren Moon. 

AMERICAN YOUTH FOOTBALL AT SUPERBOWL XLII
No One Bigger, No One Better; American Youth Football!

American Youth Football's Chandler, AZ Cardinals participated in Superbowl XLII festivities by playing in the
Snooperbowl.  Guest coached by
Arizona Cardinals' Quarterback Matt
Leinart.  Proceeds from the event went
to the Matt Leinart Foundation
(http://mattleinartfoundation.org/)

American Youth Football thanks Matt Leinart for Giving Back!

Picture(s) courtesy of Dale Messmer.   

Baltimore Ravens, Ray Lewis hosted a youth football clinic at Superbowl XLII clinic for kids from the Arizona area, and American Youth Football was delighted to be in attendance.

Ray made sure the kids worked hard and had fun.  The theme of the day was good health, good fun and exercise.

American Youth Football thanks Ray Lewis for Giving Back!

Tory Holt hosted a Flag Football Tournament at Superbowl XLII, invited were members of  American Youth Football from throughout the  Arizona area.  Tory was on  hand to give instruction and sign autographs.  Participants and attendees alike also enjoyed the Arizona Cardinals Football town presented by Coca-Cola.

American Youth Football thanks Tory Holt for Giving Back!

American Youth Football Names Atlanta Falcons Running Back Warrick Dunn: Giving Back Pro of the Year

 A commitment to helping others, community service, and volunteerism – the foundation on which the Giving Back Program of American Youth Football (AYF), the largest youth football and cheer organization in the country, is built.  From the many AYF volunteers who give selfless hours of their time, to the youth who give back to their community via AYF community projects, the dedication to enrich the lives of others is our mission.  When we see these traits in individuals who share our vision and act upon it, we are compelled to acknowledge their efforts, which is why AYF has chosen Warrick Dunn to be our Giving Back Pro of the Year.  More....

Edwards Makes History with $1M Donation

Braylon Edwards offered more than just advice and encouragement to 100 Cleveland Public Schools eighth-graders recently. He offered $1 million in college scholarship money, the largest donation by a professional athlete in Cleveland sports history.

USC football coach speaks in Oceanside

Carroll appeared for free to help raise money for the San Luis Rey Trojans, an American Youth Football team based in Oceanside. The team is the newest in the AYF which has more than 6,000 players and cheerleaders throughout San Diego County.

The league was started as a less-expensive alternative to Pop Warner. Four divisions exist for players 15 years old and younger with no residential boundaries.

Dan Armentrout said the money raised will be used to subsidize the $100 entry fee for players who cannot afford to pay. There are 150 players on the Trojans roster and Armentrout said nearly 40 percent need financial help.

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Howie Long Donates Fieldturf Field to St. Annes Highschool

NFL Hall of Famer and American Youth Football friend and supporter Howie Long, in front of the Fieldturf field he donated with friend, fellow youth football enthusiast John Grisham to St. Annes high School.

FULMERS DONATE $1 MILLION TO UNIVERSITY

University of Tennessee President Dr. John Petersen and Chancellor Loren Crabtree announced Tuesday that head football coach Phillip Fulmer and his wife, Vicky, have committed $1 million to the University of Tennessee.

The donation to The Campaign for Tennessee represents one of the largest gifts by a coach and their family to their university. The gift, which will be split equally between academics and athletics, will be used to support scholarships, athletic facilities and programming.

Pro Football Hall of Famer Larry Csonka
On Project Alaska Turf
During my junior high school years I was given the chance of participating in the football program or leaving school for disciplinary reasons. Not only did the football program keep me in school but it taught me valuable lessons in teamwork, pride, self-discipline and accomplishment that played key roles in my college and pro careers.

The young men of Barrow have a very rich and unique heritage of teamwork and are appropriately named the Whalers. The addition of a much needed football program in Barrow will positively impact many young men's lives...just as it did mine.

Larry Csonka
Pro Football Hall of Fame
Running Back

Danny White former Dallas Cowboys Quarterback contributed funds to the National Football Foundation Valley of the Sun Chapter for Academic Honor Scholarships.

A Journey for 9/11; It Takes a Giant
George Martin, one of the captains of the 1986 Giants, plans to walk across the United States to raise money for 9/11 responders. Through his Journey for 9/11, he hopes to raise $10 million to care for first responders who develop illnesses related to the attack and its aftermath. He plans to walk more than 3,000 miles across the nation, from the New York side of the George Washington Bridge to New Jersey, down to Washington, south to Interstate 40, then west, eventually leading to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.

During this busy NFL Draft weekend, Atlanta Falcons Fullback #34 Ovie Mughelli took time out to visit with the Jamaica Bulldogs Youth Football Organization, an AYF member, located in Jamaica Queens.  Ovie shared some of his football and life experiences with the players (ages 5-16) and answered questions.  He signed autographs, took pictures with the players and each player was given a keepsake gift bag.   Ovie’s presence was very encouraging to the young athletes who aspire to achieve great things on and off the field, just like him.

Reggie Bush Camp 619
Reggie Bush, the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner from Helix High who helped the New Orleans Saints to the NFC Championship game in his rookie season, hosted his first "Reggie Bush Camp 619" on March 24 at Qualcomm Stadium. The free football clinic was for boys and girls ages 7 to 17. Among the camp coaches were Bush, Drew Brees, Junior Seau, Ronnie Lott, Antonio Cromartie, La'Roi Glover, LenDale White, Matt Leinart, Rashaan Salaam, Hank Bauer, Billy Ray Smith and J.C. Pearson. - Article by San Diego Hall of Champions.  See more pictures from the event.

Jerome McDougal Miami Beach Football Camp

AYF award winners shown with NFL Players Jonathan Vilma, Dhani Jones, and Jerome McDougle flanked by Miami Beach PAL representative Mike Collier and D'Juan O'Donald, President of The Entertainment Group at the
1st Annual Miami Beach PAL Jerome McDougle Football Clinic.

Redskins' Archuleta Gives Back to Chandler Community

Adam Archuleta of the Washington Redskins came up through the youth football program in Chandler, Ariz. Now he has given back to the community that has given him so much, donating $5000 plus two sets of goal posts to AYF's Chandler Youth Football!

Tedy Bruschi is the latest NFL Player to be saluted by American Youth Football for completing the "circle of giving back". As a tribute to those who helped shape his football career in his youth football days Tedy has arranged for his home town to receive a Fieldturf surface. This generous contribution will allow the entire community to benefit through maximum use of the latest surface technology in football. Fieldturf-Tarkett, a proud sponsor of American Youth Football. In many communities youth football teams now play their games on the same product that was deemed the official surface of Super bowl XL. Other NFL Players who completed the "Circle of Giving Back" in their home towns include Howie Long, Chris Collinsworth, Phil Simms, Boomer Esiason, Warren Moon, and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila.

Volunteers across the USA have given freely of their time providing exemplary adult leadership to make a difference in communities in all fifty states. The NFL Youth Football Fund encourages these volunteers by assisting with grants. American Youth Football continues to perpetuate the "Circle of Giving Back."

AYF the Cincinnati Bengals and the Marvin Lewis Foundation: Making Youth Football Stronger

• American Youth Football  with the help of Nike Go, is pleased to announce the donation of football equipment, valued at $200,000,  a check for $100,000,was also presented by the Cincinnati Bengals, the Marvin Lewis Community Foundation and the Hatton Foundation. The donation will aid three AYF leagues  which make up 2,600 inner city youth.  AYF president Joe Galat, along with the Cincinnati Bengals and Head Coach Marvin Lewis, Bengal's president Mike Brown and Pro-Bowl wide receiver Chad Johnson and many others were all in attendance at a press conference on  Monday August 22nd from Paul Brown Stadium.
  
  
  
  view more pictures from the event

Collinsworth helps Kentucky AYF Program
Cris Collinsworth gets behind a youth program; It's all about "Giving Back".  Read the whole story here.

Terrell Owens Football Camp 2006

..."The coaching staff was amazing, lead by AYF Regional Director Byron Williams, they definitely gave the kids an experience that will help them in not only football, but in life."

Interview with Drew Brees - From San Diego Chargers' Website.

Drew Brees Gridiron Classic “... the Brees Gridiron Classic. That’s what my foundation, the Brees Dream Foundation, is calling it...We’re playing four Pee Wee football games between the Pop Warner championship teams and the American Youth Football championship teams.”

(on why he decided to put it on) “Basically, I wanted to do this to give those kids an opportunity to play in a venue like Qualcomm (Stadium). I think that helps further their dreams and aspirations to maybe go on and become a professional athlete or coach, or whatever it might be, but to stay in athletics because I think athletics with kids is very important. It gives them avenues to stay away from distractions and the sort of things that go along with high school and middle school. It’s also perhaps to give them opportunities to go to college and that sort of thing.”

(on admission to the event) “We’re asking people to bring canned goods or other non-perishable food items as admission. That food will go to food banks, which will distribute it to military families during the holidays

AYF record in Brees Gridiron Classic 3 wins - 1 loss, 2004
3 wins - 1 loss, 2005

Thomas Herrion

Thank you Big T for Giving Back, you will be missed.  Thomas Herrion “Big T”, 23, an offensive line guard for the San Francisco 49er’s and a native of Fort Worth, Texas, was an active Board of Director’s member of American Youth Football Southwest Region-Texas.   Thomas passed away on August 20^th, 2005, shortly after a pre-season game between the San Francisco 49er’s vs. the Denver Broncos.  Read more

Collinsworth helps Kentucky AYF program

Cris Collinsworth made his mark on the NFL as a wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals, and he's made his mark on the broadcasting world since. But he recently left his imprint on the Fort Thomas, Kentucky youth football community.