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Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation College Season Kick-Off Event


Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation:

I arrived at the Omni Hotel in Dallas, TX early this morning to attend an event... College Season Kick-off Event, hosted by the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation. 

 As I pull up to the Omni, I see three Chicago Squad Cars. Instant lump in my throat... I don't know if they were here to attend the service or to help out while DPD honored their fallen brothers. 

 I do know that within the event I was attending, there were 20+ Policemen and women attending the event. 

 You see, the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation has a program called Badges for Baseball. They help build turf baseball fields in inner cities, then connect the local Police Departments with the kids in their city, then they... PLAY BALL! They also teach a mentoring curriculum and build relationships with these kids! 

 That is the one common thread across every platform I've heard anyone speak from... be involved in your community. Don't just "love" them - SERVE them!!! These officers are doing just that, with our youth! 

 Four Head Football Coaches spoke at the event, interviewed by Newy Scruggs... 

 Kevin Sumlin, Texas A&M
David Bailiff, Rice
Chad Morris, SMU
Charlie Strong, University of Texas



These men spoke about unity within their teams, how important families are and how important it is to teach the kids in their program life skills so they can go back to the communities where they grew up and live out what they learned. 

 Where you are is geography. Nothing too complicated about that. But what you do where you are, can make all of the difference in the world! 

 If you encourage one person. If you shake one persons hand today and say "hi" while looking them in the eyes. We win. 

 Live live with intention and purpose! 

 Thank you Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation for putting on this event and helping us all be more aware of needs in our community. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 After the event, I drove down South Lamar Street and passed by the memorial outside the PDP station. Tears. Yes, the flowers and signs are moving, but I also saw three more police cars... one from Denver and two from Iowa. Wow. They have a brotherhood that we could learn something from. 

 Serve your local community, but respect everyone you meet, no matter where they are from.

~smile~

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