65 local middle school youth in Tampa participated in the PlaySmart Academy for two weeks.  For the second year in a row, the Academy was held in partnership with Blake High School.  Blake staff member and PlaySmart supporter Coach Kenneth Muldrow served as staff member along with 20 other volunteers many who were Blake students.

For two weeks, Academy participants learned to play new sports, gained new skills on and off the field, participated in academic enrichment activities and life skills training through the Train Up curriculum.  Many guest speakers shared their time and experience with the youth including a school board member, professional athletes, headmaster of a preparatory school, a poet, and a former president of a major university.  For one week, youth participated in swimming lessons through the YMCA.   Due to special support, youth took field trips to Tropicana Field to visit with the Rays and to the Tampa Bay Times forum to visit with the Lightning and the Storm.

Special thank you to Nike for donating shoes, shirts and backpacks, Blake High School, the Tampa Bay Rays and Tampa Bay Lightning, Subway, Red Elephant, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, NFL Charities and many others who helped to support the Tampa Academy!