Will Allen and Zamir Cobb Highlight an Evening of Inspiration to Communities
Philadelphia, PA (July 13, 2016) – The AthLife Foundation presented Ohio State University Alumnus and former Pittsburgh Steelers Safety, Will Allen, along with Temple University Alumnus and former Arizona Cardinal Wide Receiver, Zamir Cobb, with the organization’s 2016 AthLife Youth Inspire Award. This special recognition took place at the AthLife Foundation’s 7th Annual Conference Reception, on Thursday, July 14th, at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel in Philadelphia, PA.
AthLife, a national leader in providing career development, education, and life skill services to current and former professional athletes, created the charitable AthLife Foundation in 2010. The Foundation serves as a launch pad for underperforming high schools that traditionally serve students from challenged communities, to build high impact programs that drive academic achievement and bright futures beyond the athletic arena.
In 2014, AthLife initiated the social media campaign #MoreThan to promote the abundance of positive stories about athletes and athletic organizations. The AthLife Youth Inspire Award was subsequently established to publicly honor those that have truly embraced their status as elite athletes to impact their community.
Allen launched the Will Allen Foundation in 2008, with the mission to provide programs and resources to instill hope, remove barriers, promote education, advocate civic responsibility, and change lives. “I’ve always had someone in my life speak positive things over me, encourage me and empower me with wisdom and knowledge, and they did it for free,” he said. “How can I not reciprocate that?”
Cobb, who now serves as the Player Affairs and Development Director at the NFLPA, is well known for promoting participatory volunteerism which encompasses giving time, and being truly present. “I think what the kids can learn from me is that no matter what the circumstance is, what situation you find yourself in, how big the wall or how strong the barrier, at some point you’ll get a break and your situation won’t always be so hopeless,” Cobb explained.
The night also reconginzed contributions to the AthLife Foundation National platform, the schools it serves, and the student athletes.
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