Jets, Giants Players Lead 'Mini-Camp' For Kids

Fifty youngsters from the Roy Wilkins Park Summer Day Camp program joined in the July 10 “mini-camp” led by Brad Smith and Justin Tuck and sponsored by United Way and RCN. All are wearing NFL Draft caps autographed by the players. Photo Dan Miller/DMD Images

By Dan Miller
 On July 10 pro football players Brad Smith (New York Jets) and and Justin Tuck (Super Bowl Champs New York Giants) visited Roy Wilkins Park to help RCN and United Way volunteers run a mini-camp for 50 youths. The 50, who were invited to participate in the mini-camp, are part of the Roy Wilkins Park Summer Day Camp program. In all, more than 600 youths are involved in South East Queens Development Corp. programs in education and recreation.

 The participants ran an obstacle course and got a chance to hike a football and catch a pass from one of the two players. After running the obstacle course, the kids were treated to a workshop on good health. The players spoke about the importance of a well-rounded plan, including good meals, plenty of physical activity and rest. The kids then each received an autographed NFL Draft cap. All the kids posed with Smith and Tuck for a group photo.

   United Way of New York City creates, leads and supports strategic initiatives that address the root causes of critical human care problems in order to achieve measurable improvement in the lives of the city's most vulnerable residents and communities. United Way partners with neighborhood agencies, government, business, foundations, volunteers and others to collectively achieve more than any one organization working alone.

  RCN (www.rcn.com) is a broadband, facilities-based competitive telecommunications provider delivering digital television, high-speed data and voice services primarily to residential and small-medium business customers under the brand names of RCN and RCN Business Services, respectively. RCN's New York Market, RCN NY, serves much of Manhattan and the Queens communities of Astoria, Corona, Elmhurst, Flushing, Forest Hills, Fresh Meadows, Jackson Heights, Kew Gardens, Long Island City, Maspeth, Middle Village, Rego Park, Sunnyside and Woodside, as well as parts of Downtown Brooklyn and Brighton Beach.