a day ago
Garett Bolles gives back to community with free youth football camp
Garett Bolles gives back to community with free youth football camp
Denver Broncos left tackle Garett Bolles hosted a youth football camp for Colorado youth through his GB3 Foundation on Monday evening.
The 300 participants, aged third through eighth grade, gathered at Legend High School in Parker, Colorado, to learn the game from Bolles, who is entering his ninth year with the Broncos.
"I love giving back to the youth, not only in the juvenile court systems, but also in the high schools helping kids out as best as I can, and giving them faith, giving them a dream to be able to go out and live their dream like I'm living mine," said Bolles. "This is a dream come true to be able to give back to the community, and give them something to look forward to."
The camps mean a lot to Bolles, who wasn't a football player until late in his teenage years. "This (camp) is what it's all about, to give me a voice and a platform to give back in the community, and to benefit (the kids) like they benefit me," said Bolles. "They do a lot more for me than I do for them. They touch my heart, put a smile on my face and make my job so much easier to go out and play on Sundays. Seeing the kids and they're cheering my name, that's what it's all about."
The camp was free to attend, which was unusual. "I don't want to charge any kid," Bolles explained. "I wanted them to come out here and experience what I've experienced. A lot of these people, they come from different backgrounds. Some low-income families, some higher-end families, just a broad range of people. To be able to give back to them with a free camp, and to the community, give back to the people who love and care for me and gave me an opportunity and a voice, and a platform to boost my foundation, boost my ability to play football, I wanted it to be free so they can have that same ability."
Participants received a GB3 Foundation t-shirt and wristbands that were marked with the New Testament scripture 2 Timothy 4:7: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" (emphasis added). Finishing was a big theme of the youth camp, as Bolles addressed the youth. Check out the video from the camp below.
Bolles also had some of his teammates stop by to assist. Offensive lineman Frank Crum and backup center Nick Gargiulo were among those who showed up to support Bolles and his foundation.
