By Teresa Varley
Steelers.com

 

Steelers players are known for reaching out to the community and many did so when they attended the Urban Impact Foundation Football Clinic at Oliver High School on Pittsburgh’s North Side.

 

Players ran drills for kids who otherwise would not have the opportunity to attend a football camp or get any kind of tips form a professional football player.

“These kids get forgotten,” said defensive end Travis Kirschke, who helps to recruit his teammates for the event. “They don’t have the money to have after school activities. It’s not just sports, they have other programs. They have choir, art programs. I think it’s important that those kids have what everybody else has. We just try to give them the opportunity.

“I think its fun to go into their community and be a part of them. Hanging out with the kids is fun in general.”

The football clinic also serves another community purpose, which is to make the kids and their families aware of social services that are available to them.

 

But the main goal is to give the kids an opportunity they never would have otherwise.

 

“It’s always fun to be a part of the community and bring smiles to people’s faces,” said tight end Heath Miller. “Hopefully they look forward to it every year because I know me and my teammates do.”

About Urban Impact Foundation: Urban Impact was created in 1995 to foster Christian community development on Pittsburgh’s North Side. The focus is to help at-risk youth, children, and their families to grow academically, spiritually, physically, and socially

 

Photos by Mike Fabus