Former St. Louis Ram Roland Williams may be retired, but he’s still scoring major points, where it really counts: in the life of kids, right here in St. Louis.
This weekend about 250 eighth and tenth graders took advantage of his Free Football and Life Skills Camp, presented through his Youth Lifeline Foundation.
Aside from learning key football skills, youths were paired with professional athletes, celebrities and local business professionals for life skills tutoring.
“More than football, we’ve been learning life skills, which can go far beyond playing football,” Williams told youth at Harris-Stowe State University where the camp took place.
Beverly Mann, whose son Marquis attended the camp for the past two years, said, “I think the camp has given him some important life skills. For example, the training helped him to better understand the importance of team spirit and time management.”
Keeping it real with the youth, Williams told them that football isn’t an easy game and that they have a better chance of getting struck by lightning than becoming a professional football player, asserting the importance of life skills.
While the youths were interested in becoming better football players, they spent most of their time in classroom. There, they learned computer literacy, leadership, teamwork, etiquette and conflict resolution.
Several times during the graduation on Sunday, Williams started sentences that campers were prompted to finish, displaying their knowledge of the life skills they learned.
“The biggest room is,” started Williams, with the campers finishing, “Room for improvement.”
While each camper was surprised with a $130 pair of Nike shoes and a $50 Nike glove along with their certificates and leadership trophies, Williams told the American there’s more room for improvement in his foundation.
For Williams, whose foundation raised more than $100,000 over the weekend, that means more volunteers and charitable donors.
“We have enough fast food restaurants, but not enough positive outreach for our youth, so we should support these foundations,” said Williams who is huddling with his foundation to start a capital campaign.
Most of the money raised this weekend came by way of a gala held Saturday at the Ritz-Carton Hotel in Clayton.
Former Major League Baseball player Darryl Strawberry was in attendance and drew $2,400 alone in a silent auction – he will go to the winning bidder’s home to teach their children baseball in their own backyard.
Williams said he appreciates all the support he gets from the community, businesses, athletes and other celebrities. He gave awards to many of his foundation’s volunteers and thanked his wife for supporting him and allowing him to put so much time and money into the foundation.
“We’re a crying family,” Williams said, hugging and thanking his wife at the graduation.
Aside from that moment – and during hardcore football drills – Williams was all smiles and laughs this weekend, wallowing in joy at helping children.
As a person who grew up in a poor neighborhood in a single-parent home, Williams said he knows the importance of children having positive influences in their lives.
“I believe in them, and there can be greatness no matter your circumstances. If I can be a catalyst to bring it out, I will,” Williams said.
“When you take a look and read the newspapers, you realize they need us to step up help them navigate through life.”
Williams, who ended his career with an injury while playing for the Oakland Raiders, said he chose St. Louis for his foundation because he and his wife fell in love with the area.
Williams said, “We love the Midwest charm here, and I couldn’t be here without bringing something so close to my heart.”
