Focusing on their futures: Camp that builds character

When it comes to building good character, there is no off-season for this team and all its members are inked to lifetime contracts. Team Focus, a comprehensive community and outreach program founded by Alabama native Mike Gottfried, helps provide a positive male influence in the lives of young men between 10 and 18 years of age who do not have fathers in the home. Next week, Auburn will host a Team Focus summer event.

In addition to participating in team-oriented activities like football and basketball, young men who participate in the Team Focus event will hear from leaders in business and other professions who will communicate etiquette and other life skills.

Many of the men and women who work with Team Focus come from collegiate and professional sports backgrounds and they’ll be calling on those lessons learned on the field and paralleling them to daily life.

“The main purpose of using sports is to build team and leadership skills,” said George Brown, Team Focus Auburn Camp Director. “These are the kinds of skills that will make these young men better leaders and teachers. What we want them to do is not only better them selves, but those around them as well.”

Mentors of the young men who participate in Team Focus work to establish a network of support with the parents, teachers and counselors in their lives.

“These young men are in the stages of life where direction is needed most,” said Brown. “Their minds are looking for direction, but without a positive male influence how will they know what to do?”

If you Go
What: Team Focus summer event

When: June 29 through July 3, 2008

Where: Auburn University

Participants may register for the Team Focus camp online by visiting http://www.teamfocuonline.org or by contacting George Brown at
334-524-3859.