X Marks the Spotlight: DeSean Jackson
Wide receiver DeSean Jackson was this week's Community MVP. Jackson had his second event as part of his Play4Life program, this time at Tampa Bay Boulevard Elementary School. It's a program he started with his brother, holding events in both California, where he's from, and other cities he's played in. He launched the program here in Tampa last month and has multiple events planned in local schools, helping children create their own individual road maps for success.
In addition to bringing his own programs to the Bucs, Jackson has been heavily involved in Bucs' community initiatives and sits on the Player Social Justice Board along with defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, left guard Ali Marpet and left tackle Donovan Smith. He was part of the first stop of the Social Justice Initiative when a group of players visited the Tampa Citizens Police Training Academy and took part in police training drills along with an open dialogue with local police. Jackson has been an integral part of player-led initiatives especially, which is why he was this week's Community MVP.
The Buccaneers Social Justice Initiative: Abe Brown Ministries
The Buccaneers went on their second stop in the player-led Social Justice Initiative and visited Abe Brown Ministries and Ready-4-Work Hillsborough. Players sat in a classroom and had a discussion with ex-offenders that were going through the Ready-4-Work program to gain employability training and re-assimilate into the work force. Conversation focused on biases they face, how faith plays a role and what parallels can be drawn between the two groups.
The visit took on new meaning for a few players, who surprised a Tampa woman they had met during the visit with a new car to help drastically improve her transportation and employment situation.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers Foundation Partners With Grrridiron Girls Flag Football Clinic
The Buccaneers Jr. Bucs Girls Flag Football League launches this spring. The first event in advance of the launch was the Grrridiron Girls Clinic led by Dr. Jen Welter, the NFL's first female coach. Over 200 girls of all ages learned the fundamentals of flag football from one of the most prominent female figures in football and it's just the beginning because of the Buccaneers.
Through a partnership with the City of Tampa Parks and Recreation department, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Foundation is equipping 24 local recreation centers with brand new flag football equipment, including Bucs flag belts, to encourage girls to get involved with the game from an earlier age. Young athletes and coaches will receive expert instruction and the chance to develop their skills through training opportunities. Each recreation center will have the opportunity to form their own team and compete against one another starting in March of 2019, as well as become a registered NFL FLAG League and the first city-wide girls flag football league in the Tampa Bay area.
To read the full story, click here.
Sunday Marks Sixth Annual Treasure Chests 5K & Fun Run Powered by Jabil
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers Foundation hosted the Sixth Annual Treasure Chests 5K & Fun Run powered by Jabil and supported by Coca-Cola Beverages Florida on Sunday morning prior to the Buccaneers kicking off against the Cleveland Browns. It was the team's Crucial Catch game, a league-wide initiative that aims to bring awareness to all types of cancer. Over 4,000 racers took part in the 5K & Fun Run as well as the corporate challenge to bring the total amount raised for breast cancer research and patient services in the Bay area over the past six years to nearly a quarter million dollars. For more on the event, click here.
View pictures from the 6th annual Tampa Bay Buccaneers Treasure Chests 5K + Fun Run powered by Jabil.
What's on Deck:
10/23 – Buccaneers Rookie Club visit to Metropolitan Ministries - Bucs rookies will be hanging with kids of Metropolitan Ministries for some crafts and other fun activities.
10/23 – Ronald Jones's Strikes for Kids bowling event - Jones will be hosting the Strikes for Kids event that aims to enrich the lives of students and youth organizations in the community.
10/30 – MacDill Air Force Base visit - Bucs players will be visiting MacDill Air Force base and meeting with military personnel.
10/30 – Rookies visit Moffitt Cancer Center - Bucs rookies will be visiting cancer patients at Moffitt Cancer Center.
10/30 - Games with Gholston - DE Will Gholston is renting out a video game center to bring youth from various community organizations together to play video games and eat pizza
