ČĖĘŽĀŅĀ× DC and the recently cut the ribbon on a partnership to help eliminate one barrier toward student success, through the āLoads of Loveā program at our Shaw Campus. On hand to witness the event were Redskins long snapper and founder of Loads of Love Nick Sundberg, members of the Redskins Charitable Foundation including executive director Jane Rodgers, chief ČĖĘŽĀŅĀ× engagement and growth officer for ČĖĘŽĀŅĀ× DC Jacque Patterson, and ČĖĘŽĀŅĀ×sters from across grade levels. The program aims to improve attendance and participation by providing students with a discreet solution to address a challenge that is real for some studentsāhaving clean clothes.
The idea to bring to ČĖĘŽĀŅĀ× DC was spearheaded by mental health practitioner Patrick DiSalvo, who was aware of the unique challenges some of our students endured outside of school. āWe give out a lot of uniforms to students who arenāt in uniform for a variety of reasons. Sometimes kids are experiencing difficulties, or may have just forgot,ā he said. āEvery day, just seeing the relief on a childās face when they can get a clean uniform, despite whatever circumstances might have occurred, has been a welcome sight.ā
Nick Sundberg has been the Redskins long snapper since 2010 and is one of their most active volunteers in the ČĖĘŽĀŅĀ×. He was nominated for the NFLās Walter Payton Man of the Year award in 2017, which honors a playerās volunteer and charitable work, as well as excellence on the field. The ability to reach more than 1,000 children and help remove even one obstacle was a deciding factor in deciding to partner with ČĖĘŽĀŅĀ× DC. āIt just makes us feel proud that we’re making a difference,ā he said.
āThatās the ultimate goal. We all play football because we love to game and to have a positive impact on other people. But to be at a place like ČĖĘŽĀŅĀ× DC, and hopefully, have an impact on the daily activities and lives of so many kids is why we do it.ā
Jacque Patterson also spoke to at the ribbon cutting ceremony and touched on the importance of having a ČĖĘŽĀŅĀ× leader like the Redskins engage with our students and show their support. āFor them to see football players and other executives from the Redskins say āWe care about you as a person, your education, and how you feel about yourselfā is huge for our students. To see an organization so iconic and recognizable to Washington, D.C. reach out and want to help our students means a lot and goes a long way towards their success and well-being.ā
Reflecting on cutting the ribbon on Loads of Love and the impact it will have on our students and families, Patrick DiSalvo swells with pride. āIt was just a great day and celebration of everything we worked for. A lot of people from different areas came together to support our kids. Iām a huge believer in wraparound services and that it takes a village to raise a child. Itās great for our students to see the wide network of support they have.ā