Community
Development

Last Friday was one of the more unique and special experiences our office has had as community collaboration goes. 

As has been introduced in past blogs, one of our special tributes in the works to honor the memory of Darrent Williams is a life-size bronze sculpture that will be in the courtyard entrance to our new Darrent Williams Memorial Teen Center adjacent to the Denver Broncos Boys and Girls Club in Montbello.  This project has brought us in contact with a wonderful man who lives here locally but is world renowned for his art—Ed Dwight.

Ed’s first career was that of an astronaut during the Kennedy Administration, but sculpture has always been his true passion.  His works are all over the world, including the Hank Aaron sculpture in Atlanta, Miles Davis in the Caribbean, Frederick Douglass in Virginia and Martin Luther King right here in City Park.  Ed will now ad the sculpture of Darrent Williams to his works and we are thrilled to work with such a talent on this very meaningful legacy project for the Broncos. 

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Last spring, our department joined our counterparts around the country in Philadelphia for our annual League meetings.  This is a great time to exchange ideas and build national camaraderie, but also to learn what is on the docket for the NFL community platforms.

This year, for the second straight year, the NFL is focusing on youth fitness and in collaboration with the American Heart Association we are part of a larger “What Moves U” campaign.  The campaign encourages children in elementary schools and in junior high schools to increase their weekly exercise. 

You can visit DenverBroncos.com/whatmovesu next month to be introduced to some wonderful stories of students throughout Colorado who are really committing to physical fitness.  Miles will be visiting some of these kids to celebrate their schools’ fitness successes.

Another new and exciting phase of this program is the NFL Fitness Zone concept.  We have applied to NFL Charities for a grant this year to be put toward the new gymnasium at the Darrent Williams Memorial Teen Center.  We anticipate the doors to the Center opening in early 2008 with the gymanasium to follow later next year. 

What do you and your family do to stay physically fit?  Let us know–we would love to highlight you in the community section of DenverBroncos.com/whatmovesu.  Go grab your running shoes! 

Starting bright and early this past Saturday, 10 youth football teams (ages 12-14) from across the state all made the trip to INVESCO Field at Mile High to play in the fourth annual Broncos Bowl.  Broncos Bowl is our youth football celebration where teams from as far as Grand Junction scrimmage one another and experience a real Broncos game day atmosphere.

Mike Rice of KOA along with the Broncos’ own Rick Seifert called the play-by-play and a crew from Comcast was on hand running Thundervision and providing instant replay!  Teams all received gifts from Powerade who sponsored the Powerade Skills Challenge for kids simultaneously with the Broncos Bowl games—cool stuff like sideline coolers and water bottles.  Even a big banner with their team’s name on it!

Broncos Ring of Famer Billy Thompson and Broncos and CU alum Larry Brunson were on hand all day as honorary captains offering their encouragement to each team.  All of the days’ participants are invited back to the Broncos home game against the Cleveland Browns on August 25 to be recognized on field at halftime—look for them if you plan on attending the game.

The second game of the day featured Mesa County Junior Football from Grand Junction against the Denver Broncos Boys and Girls Club and proved to be the most exciting game of the day!  With the score all tied up and just seconds remaining, Mesa County Junior Football’s running back broke through the defensive line of the Broncos Boys and Girls Club breaking tackles as he sprinted past the goal line.  Touchdown!  With no time remaining on the clock Mesa County Junior Football goes ahead by six and wins the game!  They were ecstatic!  And unfortunately the Broncos Boys and Girls Club was crushed.  As fun as it was to see the smiling, exuberant faces of Mesa County it was equally difficult to see the disappointment in the faces of the Broncos.

Do you remember a time you lost or won a big game!?

It’s that time of the year again when young football players across Colorado — NFL stars in the making — take the field for a day of NFL-like game experience at INVESCO Field at Mile High in Broncos Bowl.

This year’s Broncos Bowl, to be held this Saturday, August 11, from 8am-3pm, will showcase the most-senior-age division in youth leagues from Aurora, Arapahoe, Jefferson County, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Grand Junction, Denver PAL, Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Denver, Broomfield and Fort Collins.  The state-wide representation of this Bowl allows each team the opportunity for rare cross-league play.

One of the big highlights of the day for the kids is having their names announced individually before they dart out to the 50-yrd line from the southeast tunnel, just like in the pros.  I have seen many a child over the past several years with that championship look and those stars in their eyes.

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