[su_spacer size=”20″] Carolina Panthers Defensive End Charles Johnson hosted his 4th annual Sports Academy and Community Weekend on June 19-20 for nearly 1,000 kids in his hometown of Hawkinsville, GA. The event, which was free of charge, included football, basketball, dance, tennis and cheer clinics led by Johnson, community leaders and some of Johnson’s friends from the NFL. The weekend also included the presentation of two $20,000 college scholarships to senior student-athletes from Hawkinsville High School.
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This year, the community also surprised Johnson with the Key to the City of Hawkinsville and presented a proclamation recognizing June 20, 2015 as Charles Johnson Day. Johnson constantly stresses the importance of remembering where he came from and understands the potential each person has if they work hard and strive to succeed in school.
[su_spacer size=”40″] “Each year this event continues to improve and I’m so thankful to the community for coming out and joining me at Hawkinsville High School,” Johnson said. “I was so surprised and honored to receive the Key to the City, but what I enjoy most about the event is giving back to the kids and especially awarding two more college scholarships for students from my high school.”
[su_spacer size=”40″] The recipients of the 2015 Charles Johnson Scholarship are Kaitlin Giddens and Warren Singletary. Both student-athletes were given a $20,000 scholarship, recognizing their hard work in school and their constant drive for excellence. The scholarship goes toward tuition, fees, books and other required educational expenses. Both recipients have key qualities that the Charles Johnson Foundation represents.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Giddens will attend the University of Georgia this fall. She plans on majoring in exercise and sports science. Giddens graduated high school with a perfect 4.0 GPA and was a lettered athlete in competition and football cheerleading, and archery. She is an avid supporter of the Charles Johnson Foundation as she has volunteered at the Sports Academy & Community Weekend for the past three years. Giddens is the first of eight scholarship recipients to attend UGA, where Johnson excelled on the football field.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Singletary will attend Reinhardt University in the fall. He plans to major in physical therapy and will play linebacker on the Reinhardt University football team. He was a lettered athlete in football, basketball, track and baseball while he attended Hawkinsville High School. Singletary also volunteered at the Parks and Recreation Department teaching football and basketball, as well as reading to pre-k children.
[su_spacer size=”40″] While kids were instructed by community volunteers and members of the NFL, three Carolina Panthers coaches held a Safe Tackling Clinic for local youth football coaches. Coach Eric Washington led the clinic with the assistance of Coach Sam Mills and Coach Steve Wilks.
[su_spacer size=”40″] In addition to Johnson, Coach Washington, Coach Wilks and Coach Mills, NFL participants at the Sports Academy included: Mario Addison (Carolina Panthers), Frank Alexander (Carolina Panthers), Cliff Avril (Seattle Seahawks), Byron Bell (Tennessee Titans), Charles Godfrey (Atlanta Falcons), Justin Houston (Kansas City Chiefs), Frank Kearse (Washington Redskins), Brandon LaFell (New England Patriots), James Lee (former NFL player), Kyle Love (Carolina Panthers), Captain Munnerlyn (Minnesota Vikings), DJ Shockley (former NFL player), Kawann Short (Carolina Panthers) and Fernando Velasco (Tennessee Titans).
[su_spacer size=”40″] Many sponsors and volunteers donated their time and efforts and helped the foundation continue to hold the Sports Academy and Community Weekend free of charge for all participants. Sponsors for the event included: AB’s Bar-B-Que, Abell Images/Paul Abell Photographer, Ace Hardware, Bai, Dairy Queen Grill & Chill of Hawkinsville, Dick’s Sporting Goods, GoPro, Harvey’s Supermarket, IFSIP.me, Innovative Therapy Concepts, KIND Snacks, L.I.F.E. League, Oh Yeah! Inflatables, Papas’ Pizza To-Go, Pasta Chips, Qixie 103.9, Sparkling ICE, SunMark Community Bank, Target Group and Wendy’s.
[su_spacer size=”40″] [su_box title=”ABOUT CHARLES JOHNSON AND THE CHARLES JOHNSON FOUNDATION” box_color=”#050505″ title_color=”#ffffff”] [su_spacer size=”20″] Charles Johnson is a native of Hawkinsville, GA, and a proud alumnus of Hawkinsville High School. After attending the University of Georgia where he starred at defensive end, Charles was drafted by the Carolina Panthers of the NFL in 2007 and now serves as a captain of the team.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Through eight professional seasons, Charles has received All-Pro recognition on the strength of 62.5 career sacks, placing him among the premier pass-rushers in the league.
[su_spacer size=”40″] In 2012, Charles’ passion for philanthropy and loyalty to Middle Georgia led him to launch the Charles Johnson Foundation. A non-profit organization, the Charles Johnson Foundation is dedicated to fulfilling a two-fold mission:
[su_spacer size=”40″] Providing opportunities for under-served youth to reach their full potential through athletic, recreational, and educational programs and initiatives; and
[su_spacer size=”20″] Providing support for single African American mothers through proven programs and initiatives.
The Charles Johnson Foundation Sports Academy and Community Weekend is the flagship annual event for the Charles Johnson Foundation, combining his efforts to advance education with free sports clinics in football, basketball, tennis, dance and cheer.
[/su_box] [su_spacer size=”40″] For more on the Charles Johnson Foundation
[su_spacer size=”40″] charlesjohnsonfoundation.org