Someone to look up to
Westerville Central, Kentucky and soon-tobe Steelers running back invites kids to learn
About 200 kids gathered at Westerville Central High School for a chance to work on their skills and see Westerville football legend Benny Snell Jr. show off his athletic prowess.
The camp was open to all kids 6 to 16. But about 30% of the participants of the first annual Snell Yeah camp were kids who had been affected by the criminal justice system. In many cases, that meant a parent or other relative was incarcerated.
Snell, working with Justice Action Network, a national criminal justice reform group, worked through local organizations such as the Boys and Girls club to identify campers to invite.
“I want the kids to be able to learn as much as they can from me,” Snell said. “I wish I had someone I was able to look up to both on and off the field.”
Snell graduated from Westerville Central in 2016, where he rushed for more than 2,000 yards his junior year. He then spent three years at the University of Kentucky before being drafted in the fourth round by the Pittsburgh Steelers in April’s NFL draft.
“Central has prepared me to be where I am today,” he said. “This is where it all started.”
The camp was the second Snell Yeah camp tput on this week. On Tuesday, Snell ran another in Lexington, Kentucky.
Snell said his work with Justice Action Network allowed him not only to deliver a camp experience, but also to help kids in need.
“What we do is find athletes who are passionate about justice reform issues and work with them to help amplify their voice,” said Kevin Schmidt, the vice president of government relations at Strategic Public Partners, a Columbus public relations firm that represents Justice Action Network.
The Justice Action Network's goal is to encourage treatment options rather than incarceration for people struggling with addiction or mental health issues, in part so that families aren't broken up by jail.
For Snell, the ability to help kids who come from rough backgrounds is the opportunity of a lifetime.
“It’s very big to me. Some kids aren’t as lucky as others,” Snell said. “Sometimes kids can miss that guidance, but if they have someone to look up to like me, then I feel like I did my best.”
Campers ran through a series of drills ranging from tackling to working on cut moves. Some campers, like 8-year-old Miles Tadak, were excited to get a firsthand look at Snell's athletic abilities. At one point, Tadak threw Snell a pass that he jumped and caught with one hand.
"It feels magical to be out here," Miles said. "He's a professional football player and we're out here with him. I'm speechless."
In addition, Snell's camp brought the campers and their families together with their community.
"It’s very good for the community and kids to get a learning experience from a pro athlete,” said Adrian Burt, a Canton resident who grew up playing football with Snell’s father. Burt’s 6-year-old son Austin, attended the camp.
“It’s a once in a lifetime thing.”