Superfeet Worldwide Inc. is the headlining sponsor for the 2012 Koenen / Locker Youth Football Camp taking place June 25th in Ferndale, WA and will provide supportive premium insoles to all campers. The camp provides the Ferndale-based insole company a chance to offer foot support and foot health advice to over 500 local youth and guest NFL camp leaders.
The non-profit Michael Koenen Foundation and the Koenen / Locker Camp is the vision of NFL punter Michael Koenen (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), who will be joined in running the camp this year by NFL quarterback Jake Locker (Tennessee Titans). Both players hail from Ferndale; Koenen played college football for Western Washington University and Locker for the University of Washington. Their goal is to give back to their hometown community by investing in the potential of local youth.
Koenen says, “Our camp is free, but its lessons are invaluable. Yes, we teach football fundamentals. Yes, we have fun. However, our true goal is to teach our kids the importance of friendship, teamwork, and responsibility. Those NFL players holding the whistles? They aren't just camp counselors. They are role models who love building character and self-esteem.”
The one-day football camp has seen exponential growth since its inception in 2010, and aims to not only teach the fundamentals of football, but to emphasize the importance of staying in school and the potential for success through positive life choices. This year, registration was open to 600 youth in two age categories, grades 3-6, and 7-9, with the younger group filling quickly to capacity.
Superfeet Creative Director Brent McCoy also grew up in the Ferndale / Bellingham, WA community and has been the creative lead for the Koenen Foundation since 2011. His ties with Koenen are the catalyst for the two groups working closely together. McCoy says, “This year the camp was looking for a top sponsor, someone that fit the bill with the same core values and a similar sports interest. I introduced Koenen and Locker to Superfeet as an opportunity to help in our community, help kids and provide them with a free camp.”
Twenty Superfeet staff volunteers will attend the all-day event to hand out insoles to youth and answer questions. In addition to complimentary Superfeet insoles for their cleats, all campers will receive a mini-football signed by the attending NFL ‘camp counselors’ including Michael Koenen, Jake Locker, Frank Omiyale (Seattle Seahawks), Dekoda Watson (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Adam Hayward (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), and Boone Stutz (former Seattle Seahawk).
The Youth Football Camp is also sponsored by local companies BP, Mccoycreative, Silver Reef Casino, and the Whatcom Community Foundation.
