FORT VALLEY --Police Chief John David Anderson has a vested interest in the return of the Randy McMichael Foundation celebrity weekend July 14.

And it's not the football signed by NFL players - although that's definitely a nice perk, the chief joked.

"How many kids get to go to a football camp hosted by a bunch of NFL players?" Anderson asked. "These kids idealize these players and look up to them ... It could be that one defining moment in their life that motivates them, that gets them going to become a pro football player."

McMichael, a former University of Georgia tight end now with the St. Louis Rams, played football with the Peach County High School Trojans in the mid 1990s.

For the second year, McMichael is returning to Middle Georgia with a crew of his current and former teammates for the celebrity weekend.

On Saturday, July 14, a free youth camp at South Peach Park in Fort Valley will be held for the first 150 children between 7 and 14 years old to register. Registration is at 9 a.m.

The camp is funded by an NFL grant and refreshments will be provided by Gatorade.

Celebrities scheduled to coach the youngsters include Miami Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown of Cartersville, wide receiver Kelly Campbell, a former Georgia Tech standout, and linebacker Channing Crowder of Atlanta, according to a McMichael Foundation news release.

Former University of Georgia players scheduled to attend include New England Patriots tight end Benjamin Watson and fullback Patrick Pass, Jacksonville Jaguars Pro Bowl defensive tackle Marcus Stroud, Atlanta Falcons quarterback D.J. Shockley, Arizona Cardinals tight end Leonard Pope, New Orleans Saints defensive end Charles Grant and Pittsburgh Steelers running back Verron Haynes.

A free community festival will accompany the camp from noon to 5 p.m. at South Peach Park.

The festival will feature children's games, bounce houses, a dunk tank, a rock wall, Bounce N' Slide, Slip N' Slide and a water slide. Carnival foods - as in hot dogs, snow cones and cotton candy - will be on sale.

Party Playgrounds of Byron is supplying the festival equipment and the Days Inn of Fort Valley is providing rooms, all at a reduced cost, according to the McMichael Foundation.

Anderson got involved in the celebrity weekend last year as police chief to ensure the security and safety of the event. In the process, he said, he got to know McMichael and his wife.

"We created a relationship with Randy last year because of the foundation's security needs," the chief said. "Now it's just grown into a great friendship with the shared goal to improve the community. Randy and his wife, Cawanna, are truly nice people who really care about people."

The event also provides Fort Valley police officers an opportunity to interact with the community in a positive light, the chief said, as opposed to working a crime scene, making an arrest or pulling someone over for a traffic violation.

Anderson said he also hopes to get as many autographs as possible on a regulation-size football to display at the police department. "I might have to take it with me if I ever leave Fort Valley," the chief joked.

If anyone wants to partner with the foundation, make a donation or help with the event, they may contact Anderson at 825-3383.

For more information on the foundation, visit www.randymcmichaelfoundation.org on the Internet.

To contact Becky Purser, call 923-3109, extension 243.
Reprinted from the Macon Telegraph
Becky Purser, Author