Jonathan Stewart Funds Free Football Camp Out of Pocket

Jonathan Stewart teams up with DeAngelo Williams on the Carolina Panthers to form one of the most potent running back tandems in the NFL. Stewart came into the League with a foot injury and has battled achilles injuries each of the past two seasons. The heel problems that resulted in an offseason surgery this year didn’t prevent Stewart from scoring 10 touchdowns in each of his first two seasons, and surpassing the 1,000 yard mark this past year. Although Stewart has burst onto the scene as a running back to watch in the NFL, it’s his work off of the field that is making the biggest impression.

As Pro Football Talk pointed out over the weekend, Stewart held a football camp for about 180 kids ages 7-14 in his hometown of Lacey, Washington. Best part of all is that Stewart made the camp free for the kids and covered all expenses out of pocket. According to The Oregonian, the camp participants came from the local YMCA, Boys and Girls Club and the New Life Baptist Church that Stewart attended. Additionally, Stewart apparently found camp sponsors on his own and paid his fellow NFL buddies to make appearances, all out of pocket.

So what possessed Stewart to run the free camp? He explained to The Oregonian, “For me, why make somebody pay to get better at something or to be inspired. That’s what this is all about. I’m not in it to make any money, especially in my hometown.” It’s not often we hear great stories like this so it’s on us to make sure these wonderful efforts are recognized. As if you didn’t already have enough reasons to draft Stewie for your fantasy football team this year, now you have another.

Sources:
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart finds his footing on and off the field [The Oregonian]
Football players flock to Washington for free football camp [Pro Football Talk]