Syracuse 'Youth Impact Program' Kids Visit the National Football League's Buffalo Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher College

SYRACUSE, N.Y., Aug. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Riki Ellison, Chairman and Founder of the Youth Impact Program (YIP) and a three time Super Bowl winner with the San Francisco 49ers announced that more than 75 YIP campers got to visit the 2010 NFL Buffalo Bills training camp located at St. John Fisher College in Rochester, New York on July 29th. "It was a very important part of our program to show these young boys the Buffalo Bills. It was not only inspirational but a touch of reality they could feel and see," Ellison said.

This is the first year for Syracuse University to host the Youth Impact Program. Mr. Henry Wildhack heads the program this year, and has more than 12 student scholarship athletes from Syracuse that are assisting as mentors and counselors. YIP invests in "at risk" below the poverty line young boys from 9 to 12 years old in a 4-week intense program through using Syracuse University facilities, staff and student athletes and local elementary teachers.

Mr. Henry Wildhack of Syracuse led the trip of the YIP campers to St. John Fisher College for the opening practice of the Buffalo Bills training camp. A few of the Buffalo Bills met with the boys and their discussions included what it takes to succeed in athletics and how dedication and hard work paid off for the Buffalo Bills and are necessary to be successful in athletics and life. The Buffalo Bills compete in a tough AFC Eastern Conference Division of the National Football League.

Ellison is proud of the strides this year's YIP campers have made in terms of citizenship, scholarship and sportsmanship. The program provides food, clothing, transportation, mathematics, language arts, football and life skills development to include Anger Management, Conflict Resolution, drug education and a spirit of fellowship.

"Our young men got to see what it takes to be a professional football player in America's number 1 sport. The Buffalo Bills are one of the great NFL teams and this was a great field trip for our young men from the inner city of the Syracuse metropolitan area. They were spellbound and could not believe that they were visiting the training camp of their beloved Buffalo Bills. Mr. Russ Brandon, CEO of the Bills, made the tour of the training facility for the YIP kids happen, and was instrumental in the support of the program between the Bills and Syracuse University."

Ellison closed his remarks by thanking the NFL Youth Football Fund for their continued support of the YIP. He also thanked the owner of the Buffalo Bills, Mr. Ralph Wilson, for this special day for 75 inner city kids who are on their way to becoming better citizens because of their YIP participation and experience.

The Syracuse YIP program had its closing ceremony on Friday, July 30 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Mr. Donnie Simpson, YIP Board Service Board Member, representing YIP and Mr. Riki Ellison were there to congratulate and shake the hands of each young man. He was joined by Mr. Craig Wilson, Constituent Service Representative for Congressman Dan Maffei (25th District of New of York ) at the ceremony. Awards were made for several categories, and parents and family were on hand to watch football games as the camp comes to an end.

Note to Media: If you desire an interview with Riki Ellison, the Chairman and Founder of YIP, call Barbara Maxwell at 703 299-0061 or Mike Terrill at 602 885-1955 to arrange.

SOURCE Youth Impact Program