Pay it Forward

Life expectancy in the National Football League is about three years, so playing 14 years is a feat and playing all of them for one team is next to impossible. But, that's exactly what former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Derrick Brooks did. And, at the end of the day, he will not be remembered most for his eleven Pro Bowls or his XXXVII Super Bowl ring. It's what he did off the field that will live on.

Through his foundation, Derrick Brooks Charities, Inc., Derrick has made it his life's mission to positively impact the lives of youth in the Tampa Bay area. The Brooks Bunch program served as the cornerstone of Derrick Brooks' community involvement leading the way for the formation of Derrick Brooks Charities, Inc. The Brooks Bunch was founded in 1997, and consisted of youth from the Wilbert Davis, Ybor City and Brandon Boys & Girls Clubs. As a rookie, Brooks began to visit the Boys & Girls Clubs as a way to encourage and motivate the children to excel in the classroom. During one visit, Brooks realized through conversion with a young girl that the kids at the club had not experienced things that average Americans take for granted. Thus, the idea behind the Brooks Bunch was born.

What started as a day trip on an airplane to Fort Lauderdale has blossomed into a program that incorporates a classroom element, a panel presentation, and behavior and grade assessments, all while leading up to trips around the country and around the globe. Brooks has accompanied his Bunch on seven educational journeys altogether, including a college tour to New York, Chicago and Tallahassee, and trips to Atlanta, Washington, D.C. and the western United States. In 2000 and 2005, Brooks Bunch members who earned their way traveled with Brooks to South Africa where they visited Johannesburg, Cape Town, Robben Island and Sabi Sabi safari camp.

In addition to the Brooks Bunch program, Derrick Brooks Charities, Inc. includes annual programs such as "First and Goal", which prepares first generation college attendees for post secondary education, something that never looked like a reality to them, the Northwest Florida Sports Programs, a program developed to revive youth athletic and educational programs in the panhandle, Rites of Passage Program, a mentoring program for disadvantaged young ladies, as well as the annual Game Day Ticket Program, Thanksgiving Feeding and Christmas Party.

In August of 2007, Derrick realized one of his lifelong goals with the opening of the Brooks-DeBartolo Collegiate High School; a Hillsborough County sponsored Charter High School. There are currently close to 200 students enrolled with a three-year goal of reaching a total enrollment of 500. Through a partnership with the DeBartolo family, and a strong board of directors, Derrick was able to oversee the implementation of the only traditional charter high school in the Bay area. Brooks-DeBartolo's mission is to provide a rigorous and relevant academic environment where both students and teachers achieve excellence through high expectations, collaboration and support.

Brooks has been the recipient of several prestigious awards, including the 2000 Walter Payton/NFL Man of the Year award, the 2003 Bart Starr Award, and the 2004 Bryon "Whizzer" White Award and the 2008 JB Award through the NFL Player's association, all of which recognize an NFL player annually for their commitment to the communities in which they live.

"Believe not in just trying, believe in doing." Those eight simple words accurately describe the mission of Derrick Brooks Charities, Inc. By changing one life, you can change many. The youth who have been touched by Derrick through his selfless vision will pass on their new knowledge to others, thus positively affecting more lives. A new path is established and a new way of life emerges... pay it forward... and change the world.

For more information, log on to www.derrickbrookscharities.org