Larry Fitzgerald coaches Luke mini 'Bolts

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Staci Miller
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Larry Fitzgerald, eight time Pro Bowl wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals, scored his first touchdown of the year Sunday and followed it up with a second touchdown at Luke Air Force Base.

Fitzgerald held a free two-day football training camp for more than 130 military children.

"Their families move around the country from year to year," Fitzgerald said. "The sacrifices they make are monumental. This is a small token of our appreciation to put together a camp for them. I want them to have a wonderful time and have an experience they can always remember."

The camp ran by ProCamps Worldwide, specialized in football fundamentals, with campers receiving instruction from Fitzgerald and football coaches from the local area.

"Effort is one thing you have control of all the time," Fitzgerald said. "If you put forth great effort, you're going to get great results. It's a process, and I want the kids to remember that."

Campers were split into teams of three age groups. After running numerous football drills, which included route-running instruction and catching passes from Fitzgerald, the campers participated in a playoff-style tournament of games.

"We had to listen to the coaches and follow their directions to know what they wanted," said Hayden Morgan, 8, son of Master Sgt. Larry Morgan, 56th Medical Group first sergeant. "I really like to play football because it's good for me to be healthy and stay strong."

Luke won the two-day camp by selling the most Proctor and Gamble products relative to their store size.

"We're nonprofit and this is one of the ways we can give back in a big way," said Christopher Thomas, Luke Air Force Base Commissary store director. "This event wouldn't have been possible without the community supporting the commissary."

Proctor and Gamble sponsors camps at installations all over the country run by ProCamps Worldwide, bringing the NFL experience to more than 1,500 military children with NFL players like Andre Roberts, Keenan Allen and Colt McCoy.

"Heroic, courageous and resilient are the words we use to describe military children, "said Barbara Kelly, Proctor and Gamble marketing director. "The program itself reinforces that the commissary is the center of the community and so much more than a grocery store."

The camp supports the Defense Department's Healthy Base Initiative, which helps service members, their families and DOD civilians make more health conscience choices and live healthier lives through nutrition and fitness.

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