October 9th marked the 9th Annual Hometown Huddle, a collaboration between the NFL and United Way which coordinates simultaneous volunteer projects implemented on a single Tuesday in October in different NFL cities across the country.  Since 1999, NFL Players have participated in a variety of activities ranging conducting skill-building sessions for teens to serving lunch for senior citizens.  Hometown Huddle represents a snapshot of some of the volunteer activities in which NFL players participate year round with local United Ways.

New Orleans Saints Players - including Drew Brees, Eric Johnson, Billy Miller, Mark Simoneau, Mike McKenzie and Troy Evans – teamed up with 35 third and fourth grade students from John Dibert Elementary School and staff from United Way and the New Orleans Saints for this annual volunteer day.

This year’s Hometown Huddle theme was Share Yourself, and involved the renovation and installation of a Youth Fitness Zone at Lakeview Playground.  The area in and around the park received substantial damage as a result of Hurricane Katrina, and United Way and the New Orleans Saints partnered with Lakeview Civic Improvement Association and Lakeview Booster Club to make renovations to the playground. 

Huddle volunteers installed a Fitness Cluster designed for kids ages 5 to 12. The Cluster, donated by Landscape Structures, Inc. and their local representative Dyna-Play LLC, is a fun way for kids to improve their balance, strength and agility during outdoor play.  This includes a curved balance beam, a C-horizontal ladder, a sit-up/push-up bench, parallel bars, a chin-up bar, a leg lift and exercise instructional sign.

Volunteers also built a walking track adjacent to the Fitness Cluster, which was made possible in part by Durr Heavy Construction LLC and Baker Ready Mix.  The custom-built Youth Fitness Zone represent the Saints’ colors of black and gold.

The project was funded through a grant from NFL Charities and generous in-kind donations.

NFL Representatives also held a press conference announcing the launch of NFL Play 60, a league- wide youth health and fitness campaign aimed at getting kids active for at least 60 minutes a day.  The program, designed to tackle childhood obesity, partners the NFL with several organizations including Action for Healthy Kids, Ad Council, American Heart Association, National Dairy Council, Nickelodeon, United Way and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Keynote speakers included Saints Owner/Executive Vice President Rita Benson LeBlanc, Acting Surgeon General Steven Galson, and NFL Vice President of Player and Employee Development Michael Haynes.

“It’s just a wonderful commitment for kids of all ages to get out and play for 60 minutes to promote athleticism and good health for the youth in our state. I think it really helps boost their spirits,” said Benson LeBlanc.

Saints Quarterback Drew Brees also spoke to the Dibert Elementary School children and encouraged them to live an active and healthy lifestyle.

“When I look back to my childhood, I was involved with athletics, so I was outside playing year-round for hours a day. It’s important for kids to get out and play for so many reasons,” said Brees.

After speaking to them about being active and maintaining a healthy diet, Brees led the children in a series of exercises including jumping jacks and running around a small track.

“With Drew Brees and some of the other guys out here, the Saints along with the NFL, we are very committed to rebuilding the New Orleans community. Our players are great community advocates and we’re so excited to kick off the Hometown Huddle along with United Way today,” said Benson LeBlanc.

Children and parents can learn more about NFL Play 60 at NFLRUSH.com.   The program’s newest commercial, featuring Saints’ Fan Favorite Reggie Bush, can be seen here!

To view all of the pictures from the event, click here!