Detroit: On Tuesday September 12, 2017, Detroit Lions Safety Don Carey will present new backpacks stuffed with supplies to every student at the Frederick Douglass Academy for Young Men (2001 W. Warren) in Detroit, Michigan.
The backpack donation is an initiative of Don Carey's REECH Foundation, a non-profit organization created by Carey and his wife to provide students the opportunity of academic achievement and exposure to diverse arenas, to ultimately be inspired to reach their maximum potential and become significant contributors to society.
"We're all about trying to give kids all the tools they need to succeed," said Carey. "New backpacks and supplies are a great way to help students start the school year off right and get them enthused about learning and the importance of getting an education. Our foundation is working on a number of great initiatives to help students reach their maximum potential, and the backpacks are just one piece of that mission."
Earlier this summer, Carey hosted a free STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) Day and Youth Football Camp at Martin Luther King, Jr. High School for 250 Detroit Public Schools students. Carey and his Lions teammates provided football drills on the field, while presenters from corporations like Ford Motor Company, and local colleges and universities engaged the 8-17 year-olds in hands-on activities that focused on STEAM education.
Carey is a big proponent of hard work and education and he'll be sharing that message with the students at Frederick Douglass Academy at 9:00am on September 12th in the Rosa Parks Assembly Room, before distributing the new backpacks, along with some help from the Lions Mascot Roary, to some 148 young men in grades 6-12 at the Academy.
The backpacks and supplies for this donation were purchased with proceeds from advanced book sales of Don Carey's new book "It's Not Because I'm Better Than You!", scheduled for release on October 15, donations to the The Don Carey REECH Foundation, and a grant from Walmart.
