Youth Lifeline America is a non-profit organization that since 2000 has drawn on the influence of star athletes, entertainers and prominent business professionals to inspire young people towards productive careers. Its CEO and founder, Roland Williams, an eight-year NFL veteran and Super Bowl champion, will introduce this program at 7:15 a.m. on Wednesday, March 17, at Rotary Mid-Isle’s breakfast meeting at Gertrude’s Restaurant, Hess Road. The Boys & Girls Club –USVI will benefit from the partnership.
”We are very pleased to introduce our empowering programming to the youth of this territory. We believe the Boys & Girls Club –USVI is a tremendous charity that desperately needs financial support from those with the capacity to give,” said Williams.
Initial local programming by the Youth Lifeline America includes a Football and Life Skills Camp, scheduled for July 12-14 at UVI Sports and Fitness Center in St. Thomas. The program comprises expert football training from professional players, educational mentorship in career development from business professionals, along with a variety of counseling and guidance provided for the youth participants. Scholarships are to be distributed from donors, who will be treated to a Helping Hands Celebrity Weekend following the camp. www.helpinghandscelebrityweekend.org provides details.
Rotary Club Mid Isle is proud to have been a strong supporter of their important initiative.
Roland Williams —Super Bowl Champion, sports analyst and philanthropist — regarded as one of the most engaging and energetic professional athletes of all time, takes pride in providing positive energy, relevant information and charisma to everything he does. He has appeared on media outlets including ESPN, Nickelodeon, NFL Network, CNBC, Fox, Fox Sports Net, CBS, ABC and many other television, radio and print publications. He is currently a sports analyst for CBS College Sports, VERSUS Network and Fox Sports Net Midwest.
A graduate of Syracuse University, he obtained a BA in Speech Communications with a minor in Management from Syracuse University. A tremendous student, Williams also attended the prestigious S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications Master’s Degree program in Public Relations.
After being selected in the 1998 National Football League Draft (NFL), he has excelled during his eight-year NFL career which includes the 1998 Offensive Rookie of the Year, a 2003 American Football Conference Championship, and most notably, the St. Louis Rams’ Super Bowl XXXIV Championship. Williams is founder and CEO of Youth Lifeline America, a non-profit organization that harnesses the powerful influence of celebrity athletes, entertainers and business
professionals to teach at-risk youth valuable life skills necessary to become more
positive and productive individuals. For his humanitarian efforts, he has received numerous awards including the prestigious NFL Unsung Hero Award, Oakland Raiders Man of the Year Award (twice), the Press Radio Club Pro Athlete of the Year Award, and a multi-year finalist for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award for philanthropy and citizenship.
He is married to wife, Rona, and has two children, Justice and Trustin.