August 6, 2018
Over 80 young men from around New York State attended the free football camp recently hosted by Kristin's Fund at Utica College in partnership with A CALL TO MEN.
The camp, called A CALL TO MEN Football Camp, included skills training; character development; healthy, respectful, manhood education; and prevention strategies for dating violence and sexual assault.
A CALL TO MEN educates men all over the world. Embracing and promoting a healthy, respectful, manhood prevents violence against women, sexual assault and harassment, bullying and many other social ills. A CALL TO MEN is a violence prevention organization and respected leader on issues of manhood, male socialization and its intersection with violence, and preventing violence against all women and girls.
"A CALL TO MEN has 20+ years of experience working with and training men, from the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League, to the United States Military, the Department of Justice and the United Nations," explained Joe Palumbo, Kristin's Fund. "Bringing this kind of training to young men in our community is just once piece of the puzzle when it comes to prevention and awareness of domestic violence."
Speakers and coaches for this years' camp included: Shan Foster, A Call To Men; Guest Coach: Brandon Villarreall (Purdue, ASU); Local Utica College Coach: Blaise Faggiano; and Camp Speaker: Rev. Rickie Houston, A Call To Men. Many volunteers and members of the Utica College Football Team were also in attendance.
In addition to the Football Camp, Kristin's Fund was set up at the Boilermaker Health and Fitness Expo this year bringing information and resources to the greater Utica Area. Hundreds of people stopped by the booth to show their support and helped raise approximately $400 in donations.
"Donations are so important to what we do and they allow us to host events like the A CALL TO MEN Football Camp," said Gina Pearce, Kristin's Fund. "They enable us to further our mission of domestic violence prevention and ultimately help save lives."
Keep up with all events and awareness activities in our community by following Kristin's Fund on Facebook and Twitter. A second camp is being planned for 2019. Details and information will be available at www.kristinsfund.com in early spring.
