Multimedia Journalist
UTICA, N.Y. — On Monday night at Utica University, Kristin’s Fund kicked off their annual football camp that’s about more than just blocking and tackling.
“We started the football camp as my idea to impact the youth,” said Joseph Palumbo, the co-founder of Kristin’s Fund. “I saw it as a way to reach kids when they were young and get a captive audience here at a football camp.”
RahK Lash is the vice president of programs for A Call to Men, an organization that seeks to promote healthy and respectful masculinity through training sessions like those offered at the football camp put on by Kristin’s Fund.
Lash hoped the players on the field took away three key lessons from the two-day experience: wellness, influence and platform.
“How am I investing in my wellness? What do I need? How am I investing in my influence because as student athletes are some of the most influential people at some of the most influential people, and you can influence some not so good things,” Lash said, “but you can influence some amazing things and your platform using this sport as a platform to talk about violence prevention; to talk about ending domestic violence, right? Talk about promoting wellness and how we show up and give each other the space to be our vulnerable selves free from consequences.”
This year, Derek Slywka, a rookie receiver for the Indianapolis Colts, volunteered to be a special guest coach for the camp.
Slywka, originally from Waterloo, graduated from Ithaca College.
He said he wants the players to know that taking care of their mental health is just as important as their physical health.
On Monday night at Utica University, Kristin’s Fund kicked off their annual football camp that’s about more than just blocking and tackling.
Multimedia Journalist
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