Professional basketball is deep into the playoffs.
The NHL is skating along in the playoffs also.
MLB is in full swing into the season.
The NFL never stops, along with that, the Miami Dolphins continue to make their voice heard in the community teaming up with various community citizens putting a stamp on making South Florida better presently and the future.
This week this year rookie class led by Dolphins first-round pick Minkah Fitzpatrick took the time to share how character along with other characteristics was valuable to where they are today in life and their playing careers.
It was the finale to the “Character Playbook” program; an education initiative focused on youth character development and building healthy relationships. “Character Playbook” is the latest innovation in the more than 40-year partnership between the NFL and United Way.
The Dolphins and United Way of Broward County conveyed this web-based program to schools throughout Broward County, and have reached more than 2,700 students in almost 50 schools since the program’s inception in spring 2016.
Nearly 300 students filled the Forest Glen Middle School cafeteria cheering on fellow students, attentive to the clear advice from this Dolphins rookie class and fun in the presence of their favorite football team players who sat along some of the students throughout the cafeteria.
Before Fitzpatrick was an All-American cornerback at Alabama and the first round pick for Miami, he endured struggles beyond his control while attending St. Peter’s Prep in New Jersey. Hurricane Irene damaged Fitzpatrick’s family home in 2011. And with no insurance, it left his family in a financial quandary.
“Community is important because community helped me get through what I went through when I was younger when I was these kids’ age – when I was exactly these kids’ age,” Fitzpatrick stated. “Just teaching them about community, about character. They can take something real small from me and just apply it.”
The home was eventually rebuilt also academic scholarships covered $10,000 of the annual $13,000 tuition for the Prep school he attended and could not afford at times.
When the final words of advice and acknowledgment were stated to the middle school students and teachers, they flooded towards the players for high fives and pictures.
“This course aided our teachers in developing their Peer Counseling curriculum,” said Ronald Forsman, Forest Glen Middle School Principal. “Character Playbook is instrumental in the Social and Emotional Learning of the students who completed the program, and as a result has impacted their peers as well.
The Dolphins rookie class will continue to immerse themselves in preparation for the season ahead; however, the beat goes on when it comes to community work. The Dolphins start continue their organized team activities May 22-24, May 29-31, June 4-7, and a June 12-14 mandatory minicamp.
Photo/MiamiDolphins
Photo/MiamiDolphins
