Witten Camp

Photo by Larry N. Souders / Jason Witten (82) is rushed by youth as clips for an NFL/United Way PSA is filmed during his youth football camp last June at Brown-Childress Stadium.

You may register for the camp at the following link: http://www.jasonwitten82.com/news/20080311camp.html

WITTEN CAMP SET FOR SIXTH YEAR

After a career year in the NFL, things can only get better for Elizabethton native Jason Witten.

The same can be said about his annual youth football camp.

The All-Pro Dallas Cowboy tight end has announced plans for his sixth-annual youth football camp which will be held Saturday, June 21st on Dave Rider Field at Brown-Childress Stadium in Elizabethton.

“I’m very excited to bring the camp back to my hometown again this year,” said Witten, who was named one of four finalists for the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year award last year. “It’s an event I look forward to every year, and I enjoy getting a chance to get out there and work with some great kids.”

Witten, a former Elizabethton Cyclone and University of Tennessee standout, earned his fourth Pro Bowl berth in five professional seasons in February after the best season of his professional career to this point.

Witten caught 96 passes for 1,145 yards and seven scores, earning a spot on the All-Pro team as well as being named Howie Long’s ‘Ultimate Tough Guy’ on Super Bowl Sunday.

His annual camp has increased in attendance each year of its existence. The camp, which is free to all youth aged 7 through 18 if they register on or prior to June 7th, has been attended by more than 2,500 youth since its inception six years ago. Attendance is expected to grow larger this year.

Once again, the camp will feature other active NFL players, former and current Tennessee football players, as well as notable high school coaches and other players from the collegiate level.

Some notable players that have previously attended the camp include Cowboys Pro Bowlers Tony Romo and Terence Newman, and the camp was featured in a United Way NFL television commercial last year.

This year, the opening session for ages 7 thru 12 will be held from 9 a.m. until noon, while the second session for ages 13 thru 18 will run from 1:30 until 4:30 p.m. After multiple series of instructions, drills and motivational speeches, an autograph session will be provided for all campers.

This year, for the first time ever, registration has been made available online at Witten’s official website: www.jasonwitten82.com. Click on the camp link on the left-hand side of the page and follow instructions once you reach the form.

Sponsorships, which include an exclusive meet and greet with Witten and other celebrity guests, are also available for this year’s event. Monies raised through these sponsorships have helped fund the camp and also enabled Witten to contribute more than $10,000 to local Boys & Girls Clubs in the last two years alone.

Proceeds from this year’s camp will go to Jason Witten’s SCORE Foundation, a nonprofit charity established last year by Witten and his wife Michelle which benefits families and individuals in crisis in Dallas and in Northeast Tennessee.

All sponsorship inquiries should be directed to Ryan Altizer at 615-330-6969.