NAAAA Pro Athletes Mentor and Suppot Compton Youth

Over 200 middle and high school students will have the opportunity to spend the day being coached by NFL, top college players, retired NFL players and local coaches. Some of the teams represented at this event will include: University of Alabama, University of Georgia, Ohio State, Duke, Stanford, Atlanta Falcons, Washington Redskins, Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins, and this year's Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints. The camp is free to all participants.

Eligible teens interested in participating in the camp should call 1-330-646-9327 or E-mail watkinscamp@gmail.com for more information. Sponsors and partnering organizations for this event include: the Compton NAACP, U.S. Army, Inspiring Minds, ACES Foundation, Trumbull County YMCA, PFG Wealth Management, T&R Group, Educational Advancement Alliance, XESS Style, Numij Photography and Entertainment, and A Given Touch Catering.

Following the camp, the Alliance will facilitate a Teen Summit. A panel of the nation's Top African-American Male Student Athletes known as The Watkins Men will participate in a panel discussion with the Teen Summit participants. The Watkins Men have been building their alumni since 1994 and have a wealth of information to share. The panel will address issues regarding one's commitment to working hard in order to meet your goals, making the right decisions, the benefits of perseverance, dealing with peer pressure, and the importance of getting a proper education.

This Teen Summit is a unique approach in addressing the concerns of urban youth and has been very successful in the past because the teens have an opportunity to hear first-handed the trials, tribulations, and successes of men that have experienced the same obstacles our teens currently face, such as poverty, discrimination, and negative influences. During the panel discussion, the teens will be given the opportunity to ask questions and get autographs.

That evening, the 19th Annual Franklin D. Watkins Award Gala will be held at the Los Angeles Marriott Downtown. This red-carpet event will announce this year's top 5 African-American male high school student athletes of the year from across the country. Prior Watkins winners will participate in this gala event. ESPN columnist, Jemele Hill, will also be the keynote speaker.

For information regarding sponsorship or tickets to this memorable event, please contact Reginald Grant (eplaybook1@mindspring.com) at 323-376-1057 or visit www.naaaa.com.