Dreams for Kids DC: Field Time!

We were at Redskins Field for the latest Dreams for Kids DC football clinic with the rookies recently signed to the team. The players were on hand as a part of the Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation, in partnership with DFKDC. At the seventh adaptive football clinic for the organization, the rookies assisted in instructing/coaching the children, running them through football drills, and giving them pep talks, lunch and autographs. We snapped a Washington rookie and Kyle Kalis with participants Lily Foster and Sofia Arbeen.

Open to a wide range of ages, 4-24, participants with physical and developmental disabilities were able to get active on the field with the athletes, the ultimate goal being to empower at-risk children, who often don’t have access to the same physical and social activities as other kids. Even though he's a rookie, one name you may already recognize, linebacker Nicolas (Nico) Marley, the grandson of the late Bob Marley, right, with wide receiver and University of Maryland product Levern Jacobs.

The sense of camaraderie and mentorship was evident as many of the children ditched their wheelchairs, forgetting about their disabilities and focusing on their abilities! Volunteers Nikki Zhi Herson and Dan Cohen assist participant Jamison Eberstein across drills. She also knows them as "mom" and "dad."

Volunteers came from every corner of our community, including Miss Northern Virginia Alice Gyamfiand and Miss Capitol Region Lizzie Mothershead, who flank DFKDC participants Janiyah and Joshua Cicero.

Dreams for Kids DC’s events are largely centered on physical activities that are geared toward increasing children’s coordination and strength and, most importantly, improving their self-esteem. All of this was made possible because of extraordinary volunteers and sponsors like DARCARS, Coca-Cola, and Delta Produce. Here, DFKDC Executive Director Glenda Fu with Julie and Jackson Roth.