Jason Garrett Starfish Charities will host the 15th Annual PLAY IT SMART Football Camp and Leadership Forum in partnership with the AthLife Foundation on Saturday, May 20 at Garrett's alma mater Princeton University.
During the one-day, free, non-contact football camp, student athletes from schools in New Jersey and New York are coached by Garrett, current and former NFL players and coaches, as well as area high school coaches. The purpose of the day is to inspire the participants to excel and to focus on having college as part of their future plans.
Camp coaches and volunteers help the participants with both football and life skills that will prepare them for the next season and beyond with an emphasis on making good choices on and off the field.
As part of the experience, the historic Nassau Inn will host volunteer coaches and staff to a Leadership Forum on Friday evening, May 19. Guest speakers, coaches, former campers and staff will discuss all aspects of leadership, its importance and how to inspire it in all walks of life.
Jason Garrett Starfish Charities is a non-profit 501c3 charitable foundation whose mission is to strive make our community a better place by enriching the lives of its youth. The inspiration for the foundation is the following story:
While walking on the beach, an older man noticed a young girl ahead of him picking up starfish and flinging them into the sea. Finally, catching up with the youth, he asked her why she was doing so. The answer was that the stranded starfish would die if left to the morning sun. "But the beach goes on for miles and there are millions of starfish," countered the man. "How can your effort make any difference?" The young girl looked at the starfish in her hands and threw it to safety in the waves. She said, "It makes a difference to this one."
