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Hometown Hero Takes the First Step
Jacksonville native Samuel Barrington has decided to take the First Step. Long known for his prowess on the field and his philanthropic efforts off it, the much-acclaimed linebacker for the Green Bay Packers who most-recently received the Pop Warner 2016 Humanitarian Award, is teaming up with a small, but mighty group of volunteers and community leaders in implementing a program that invites everyone in the community to take the First Step in creating a better, stronger, and more cohesive community. And you can join the fun and take the First Step, too, on Saturday, June 11th, at 1 p.m., at Justina Road Elementary School Park. State Representative Mia L. Jones will join Barrington, State Representative Larry Lee, Junior, St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara, Christina Phillips president of Precision Sports Management Group and a few surprise guests for a free afternoon filled with fun, games, and community-building. The First Step program had a humble start last year a couple hundred miles south of Jacksonville in Fort Pierce, Florida. In an effort to create a safer community in Garden Terrace, an area of Fort Pierce once known as “Little Vietnam” because of the violence, Scott Van Duzer, a pizza shop owner widely-publicized for bear-hugging President Barack Obama and St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara started visiting the Garden Terrace every Tuesday afternoon. The pair brought a football, a few friends, and a few pizzas. They asked for nothing except some company on the long-neglected playground. Before long, the pair had been joined by dozens of kids of all ages from the community and other community members who also wanted to take the First Step towards a stronger community. Click Here To Read...
read moreMiami Dolphin Michael Thomas Named Week 7 NFLPA Community MVP
The NFL safety leads “The First Step” initiative mentoring youth in underserved Florida neighborhoods Editor’s Note: The NFLPA Community MVP recognizes players who are making a positive impact in their local communities. Each week, the NFLPA will celebrate one player who recently demonstrated his commitment to giving back and will make a donation to the player’s foundation or cause in support. This week’s #CommunityMVP is Miami Dolphin Michael Thomas who is demonstrating leadership by speaking to at-risk youth of underprivileged communities. October 20, 2015 has a new meaning for Michael Thomas of the Miami Dolphins. The Mayor of Fort Pierce, Florida proclaimed the Tuesday to be Michael Thomas Day and presented the 26-year-old safety with an honorary Key to the City. The pomp and circumstance celebrated something Thomas is innately passionate about – mentorship. Though he has no previous ties to the Fort Pierce community, he drove for more than two hours to be a key figure in a new program that is focused on providing positive role models to local youth. “My favorite part of receiving the key was that the commissioners had the kids present to me. This really helped show the children that they are a part of this,” Thomas said. The day included two-touch football, pizza and, most importantly for Thomas, a lot of time to connect directly with the young attendees. “The most memorable part was answering their questions. Their questions are so raw and innocent, and it shows that what they hear as a young person actually has a major impact on painting their future,” Thomas said. Though he grew up more than 1,000 miles away in Houston, he said it was very easy to relate to the kids. “The questions they asked brought me back to my own childhood,” he said. “Playing ball with them in the park was just like playing one of the backyard games that I did in my youth.” The First Step, founded by community philanthropist Scott Van Duzer and the Van Duzer Foundation, focuses on making genuine, lasting connections with kids who are faced with the disadvantages of growing up in neighborhoods characterized by “anger, violence and bad influences.” It hopes to achieve this by challenging community leaders to get together with youth in a Fort Pierce park for one hour each Tuesday. “When Scott Van Duzer and the Van Duzer Foundation reached out to me, I was all for it,” Thomas said. “We want these youth to leave the First Step program with bigger dreams and to accomplish something great!” Thomas graduated from Stanford University with honors and a degree in sociology. He is quick to acknowledge that he was able to succeed at such a high academic and athletic level because of mentorship that he benefited from during his upbringing in Texas. “It’s important to me to try to inspire kids and offer resources and experiences that they wouldn’t otherwise have,” Thomas said. “Many of us in the NFL have had moments as a child where someone – a coach, teacher or mentor – took time to believe in us. My desire is that, by getting involved, I am helping change a kid’s life.” Making Strides with Selfless Service While this was Thomas’ first time with the initiative in St. Lucie County, when he isn’t...
read moreBreaking Down Barriers, One Commissioner at a Time
Antonio Avriett (left), a member of the Boys & Girls Club, gets a high-five from St. Lucie County Commissioner Chris Dzadovsky while playing touch football Tuesday afternoon during The First Step in Fort Pierce. Members of the commission, Fort Pierce City Commission and Police Department, as well last the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, were on hand during a visit by Miami Dolphins safety Michael Thomas. (SAM WOLFE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS) The look on Sheriff Ken Mascara’s face said it all. Beaming from ear to ear, the sheriff was gang-tackled by a gaggle of four small kids, each grabbing at his legs, during an impromptu game of touch football Wednesday in northwest Fort Pierce. Credits: Article from...
read moreThe First Step
St. Lucie County Leaders Take ‘The First Step’ with Local Youth By: Zach Dean Oct 6, 2015 Credit: www.tcpalm.com FORT PIERCE — Fort Pierce Mayor Linda Hudson, County Commissioner Kim Johnson and Sheriff Ken Mascara were among many local leaders who participated in a touch football game Tuesday in Fort Pierce. “The First Step” is a project put together by Scott Van Duzer, Johnson, and State Representative Larry Lee Jr., and is intended to bring community leaders together with nearly 30 local children of all ages, from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., every Tuesday for football (or any other activity), pizza, and, most importantly, the chance to get to know each other. “I just want them to know that this whole city cares about them; that they’re not lost up here or forgotten,” Hudson said. “Maybe someone in their life has told them that nobody on that side of town cares about them, but, in my experience, people very much care about them. “I want this to be one Fort Pierce, and it’s going to take things like this to make that happen.” This was the first of a weekly event that will take place at the park, at 33rd street and Avenue G in Fort Pierce, Van Duzer said. The plan is to play for 20 minutes, talk for 20 minutes, and then spend the final 20 minutes eating. “When kids see leaders, a lot of the time they don’t know who we are,” Commissioner Johnson said. “We just want them to understand that it’s not about us being adults, or telling them what to do, or us knowing more than them. It’s about us connecting with them on a personal level so they can know, and understand, how we became who we are on a professional level.” St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara was among the leaders who played, and spoke, with the children. And like Johnson, Mascara believes that positive interaction with children is critical. “In my opinion, any time law enforcement in general can get a chance to interact with youth in a positive matter, it’s a great outcome,” he said. “A lot of people in this community care about them, and we want them to be successful. These people here will do anything to facilitate their success.” According to Van Duzer, the Indian River State College baseball team is scheduled to come out next Tuesday to play Wiffle ball with the kids. The following week, Miami Dolphins safety Michael Thomas will come to the park and speak. “I thought it was a great idea,” said Shametra Wright, whose son participated in the event. “I’m coming again, and I’ll be bringing more kids next week.” While the inaugural The First Step project was a success, Van Duzer said the only way real change will happen is if others follow course. “We wanted to be a force and show kids that there are people out there that care about them,” Van Duzer said, “and we want to inspire other people to do the same thing. “That’s the where the first step came from. There are people out there that want to do things and we want them to come take the first step and do something, too.” Read Article on...
read moreLeaders Share Troop Project
By: Bartholomew Sullivan Phone: 202-408-2726 Email: bartholomew.sullivan@tcpalm.com WASHINGTON — Fort Pierce businessman Scott Van Duzer and an entourage from St. Lucie County came away from a meeting with White House officials Wednesday convinced they can “fast-track” their Boy Scout Troop 772 initiative in more than 230 cities across the country. VanDuzer, perhaps best known nationally as the man who gave President Barack Obama a bear hug and lifted him off the his feet at his pizza parlor in 2012, is bringing his success story with Fort Pierce youngsters to the leaders of the president’s “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative. The White House initiative’s name comes from another term for the good Samaritan mentioned in Luke’s Gospel. In a meeting with Special Assistant to the President Michael D. Smith, director of the White House initiative, the group said everyone shared ideas and promised cooperation. PROJECT 1A “We’re going to be lining up with those (230) cities so that we can fast-track what we’re doing,” said Van Duzer on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington after the session. “We were extremely pleased how receptive they were of all the stuff we’ve done, and he told us how proud he is of us for doing all this.” During the meeting, Smith asked how many Boy Scouts of color are in troops nationwide and was told it’s less than 5 percent, Van Duzer said. The group, some of whom traveled to Ferguson, Missouri, to help set up seven troops there, will be in Baltimore on Thursday. Earlier in the day, the group met with U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, and handed him a progress report on the initiative in his district. Already after less than two years, 18 of his Boy Scouts have made the honor roll at Dan Mc-Carty Middle School in Fort Pierce, Van Duzer told Murphy, a Democratic Party candidate for the Senate from Jupiter. Debuting as spokesman for the group was St. Louis Rams tight end Jared Cook, who said he was looking for “something to get involved in, a place for kids to get off the street,” after the riots last year in Ferguson, just miles from the Rams’ training camp. Filmmaker Praheme Praphet gave Murphy a poster for his feature movie “Troop 491: The Adventures of the Muddy Lions,” which he told the congressman is about a child of a single parent who found a way to avoid gangs and the streets of Richmond, Virginia, through Scouting. Someone joked that Murphy should hang it in his “new office,” to laughter. Said Murphy: “I’m either going to have a bigger office or no office,” to more laughter. Van Duzer gave Murphy an update on a program that started with 51 of the toughest cases at the middle school. Later, in an interview in the rotunda of the Cannon Office Building, Van Duzer talked of all the people who have stepped forward to help, including the Boy Scouts national leadership, and local politicians. Van Duzer said a “cornerstone” of the program, state Rep. Larry Lee Jr., had planned to make the trip but could not at the last minute. Some in Troop 772 have traveled to the state Legislature in Tallahassee, where Lee was their host, and to Congress and to the United Nations to earn three different levels of citizenship merit badges,...
read more772 Goes to Washington
Thanks to a generous gift from Steve Friend of Treasure Coast Lexus and Treasure Coast Toyota, members of Boy Scout Troop 772 will be packing their bags and heading to Washington, D.C., later this month to visit with lawmakers, including State Representatives Larry Lee, Congressman Patrick Murphy, St. Lucie County Commissioner Kim Johnson, and Congressman John Lewis. Friend learned of the invitation the troop had received and offered $8,400 to help cover the cost of the trip. The remaining funds were donated through Andrew Hunt and the Roy Hunt Foundation, and the St. Lucie County Firefighters. While in the capitol, members of the troop and their chaperones will meet with Congressman Lewis, visit with Congressman Murphy, who extended the initial invite to the boys, and have a chance to tour the capital and White House. Since starting Troop 772 in early December, the number of trips to the principal’s office are markedly down, referrals have nearly disappeared, and there is something in the air at Dan McCarty Middle School. There are currently 57 scouts registered with the troop, and another 70 boys on a waiting list. With a strong belief that quality time and role modeling are key ingredients to help curb the tide of violence which threatens our community and robs us of young lives with bright futures, these community leaders are teaching teamwork, integrity, scholarship, and positive attitude to help expose the young men to opportunities and avenues of community service that are far more rewarding than the crime and punishment that come along with the quick and short-lived thrill of gang life. To learn more about the Van Duzer Foundation’s work with Troop 772, please call (772) 528-3467. Videos From...
read moreBoots on the Ground
BOOTS ON THE GROUND Saturday March 15th 8:00 am Join the fun and community as Neighborhood BibleWay Church & Boy Scout Troop 772 “Cleanup Ft. Pierce” Were Comfortable Shoes & Meet Us At 523 North 13th Street for a couple of hours of Companionship, Cleanup, and Community For more information call 772.528.3467...
read moreTwo Kids, One Disease, One Big Community Hug
Event Date: Date: Wednesday – February 26th Time: 4-10 p.m. Where: Big Apple Pizza 2311 S. 35th St., Fort Pierce (across from IRSC) Elice Sena and Julian Fraga have something in common, but it’s not something good. Both children are in the battle of a lifetime against the meanest monster ever – cancer. Just eight years old, Elice loves school and reading almost as much as she loves spending time with her younger brother and sister. Her mom calls Elice, “Our first blessing.” Julian Fraga is the youngest of three siblings, and he loves school and art. Unfortunately, Elice and Julian can’t go to school and enjoy class with their school chums; they’re too busy with chemotherapy, blood work, and trying to stay positive despite the brutal treatments they’re on to help them get better. These two little kids are fighting a big battle, and they could use one big community-wide hug of support and love. Wednesday, February 26th, the Van Duzer Foundation, along with Elice and Julian’s teachers and classmates at Westgate K-8 school, will be hosting an evening of fun and pizza to help raise funds and spirits for Elice and Julian. From 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., every slice of pizza, soda, sub, salad, wing, and garlic knot sold at Big Apple Pizza will mean a donation to help Elice and Julian’s families get over some pretty tough times. Not only will one hundred percent of your purchase that evening go to help these two kids and their families, everyone cooking and serving your food that evening will be donating their salaries and tips to help these families. Plus, Traxx Entertainment will be on hand to keep the party going, and Chuck and Lori’s Entertainment will provide bounce houses for the little ones. One Blood will also be on hand, gratefully accepting blood donations and helping register volunteers who would like to help save lives through blood or bone marrow donations. It will be an evening of fun, family, friendship, and a real community hug to show support to these two families who are going through so much. As always, even if you can’t make a donation or swing a slice or soda, you’re encouraged to come out and share a smile and some words of encouragement for Elice and Julian and their families. For nearly six years, the Van Duzer Foundation has found unique ways for everyone to positively impact the community and has raised and donated over $800,000 to St. Lucie County residents in need. If you’d like to find out more about the Foundation, please visit www.thevanduzerfoundation.org, or find the Van Duzer Foundation on Facebook and Twitter....
read more772 is More Than an Area Code:
It’s a New Way of Life
View the article at TC Palm: Anthony Westbury: Troop 772 Coverage From TC Palm Troop 772 Goes To Washington Fort Pierce group hopes to rebuild the village one Scout at a time – Thursday, November 21, 2013 New Boy Scout troop is transforming lives already – December 15, 2013 Click here to read more news articles There have been 137 shootings in St. Lucie County this year. Whether it’s a gang initiation, drive-by shooting, drug-related shooting, or whatever the reason, the number is far too high. Despite numerous town meetings, roundtables, and take back the streets marches, shots continue to be fired and the lives of young community members are lost in a wave of unnecessary violence. Gangs are recruiting new members at younger ages than ever before (some report members as young as eight), so it’s important to find other ways for young boys to feel a sense of solidarity, camaraderie, and belonging than by being rolled, jumped, sexed, courted, or crimed into the dead end life of a gang. While there are no clear answers, a small group of dedicated community volunteers working through the Van Duzer Foundation, think the answer may lie in the number 772. St. Lucie County Firefighter, Rusty Hines, along with four assistants, has begun the process of training to become scout leaders for St. Lucie County’s newest Boy Scout Troop, #772. Targeting at-risk youth from St. Lucie County’s Dan McCarty Middle School, Hines and a diverse group of community members and dedicated volunteers including Scott Van Duzer, Dan Hafner, Fort Pierce Police Chief Sean Baldwin, St. Lucie County Fire Chief Ron Parrish, School Board member Troy Ingersoll, State Representative Larry Lee, St. Lucie County Commissioner Kim Johnson, and retired St. Lucie County School Security Officer Terry Miller met with a group of 51 students aged eleven to thirteen. Before the meeting ended, all 51 of the teens had signed up to become part of the new 772 initiative, and more than 27 other young men are working to get permission slips and guardian approval to join the newest Boy Scout Troop – one that will be decidedly different than most troops. Also assisting with the project is St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara. These community leaders are all joining forces because of the belief that quality time and role modeling are key ingredients to help curb the tide of violence which threatens our community and robs us of young lives with bright futures. The idea is to expose the young men to opportunities and avenues of community service that are far more rewarding than the crime and punishment that come along with the quick and short-lived thrill of gang life. The group plans a monthly camping trip to help learn more about life skills and resourcefulness, job shadowing and opportunities to observe and experience a variety of career options, and a strong commitment to community service and sharing time and talent to help make the community a safer, stronger, and friendlier place to live, work, and play. And while Van Duzer Foundation board president, Scott Van Duzer admits the new 772 is not the only or most complete way to end the violence in the community, he feels strongly that executive roundtables and town hall meetings are not the answer either....
read moreEmmy Award-Winning Fort Pierce Teen Turns Eye To Van Duzer Foundation
By Kevin Canessa Posted November 19, 2013 at 4 a.m. Shannon O’Connor, left, with Shane Burcaw, the man with whom she produced an Emmy Award-winning documentary. FORT PIERCE — For many in the television world, the ultimate goal is to win an Emmy Award. Some achieve it after years of hard work. Most never do. A Fort Pierce Central High School graduate, Shannon O’Connor already has won an Emmy — and she’s only 17. O’Connor graduated Fort Pierce Central early and is about to earn an associate degree in English from Indian River State College. With one Emmy won, she is ready to embark on another film — this time about the Van Duzer Foundation. “I just kind of go with it,” O’Connor said. “I’ve had an interest in film and I was very fortunate.” WINNING THE EMMY A few summers ago, O’Connor helped to produce a seven-minute film about a friend, Shane Burcaw, 21, of Philadelphia, and his struggles with spinal muscular atrophy, an affliction that makes it impossible for him to walk or to do just about anything physical. The affliction will ultimately kill him. “I was 7 when my mom was diagnosed with terminal cancer,” O’Connor said. “And at a very young age, I was involved with a nonprofit my mom started to help others with cancer. Shane has his own nonprofit, and that’s how I met him. And we both have a love for laughter. So the idea was to do this film, called ‘Happiness Is Always an Option,’ to demonstrate that no matter how bad life can get, laughing more in life is more fun that doing anything else.” O’Connor helped Burcaw write the script for the short film. Their hope was that anyone experiencing any kind of tragedy or setback in life would be able to come to the realization that if you laugh at yourself, it can be OK. Their film, “Happiness Is Always an Option,” won an Emmy in New York earlier this year in the “Human Interest” category. THE NEXT FILM Now, O’Connor hopes to do yet another film — this maybe 30 minutes or more — that highlights the work being done by Scott Van Duzer and the Van Duzer Foundation in St. Lucie County. “I told Shane about Scott and the work that he does,” O’Connor said. “And at first, we were going to enter the foundation into a contest that would highlight, via a documentary, a worthy nonprofit. But they were looking for a Pennsylvania-based one. So rather than have to go through the application process and try to get them to accept a nonprofit not in Pennsylvania, I decided to do this independently.” A Los Angeles-based production company will handle the project for free. O’Connor will begin to film events the foundation puts on starting in December. The first event: a benefit for Christian Medina, a local teen who died a few weeks ago in a car crash, and the two teens who survived the wreck. The idea, O’Connor said, is to show people how much great work Van Duzer does and how laughter makes it easier. “We certainly want to promote his mission,” O’Connor said. “But again, we want people to know that out of tragedy, laughter is still one of the best remedies.” Van...
read moreThe Van Duzer Search
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