The New Orleans Saints Make Dreams Come True for Young At-Risk Boys
 
NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Riki Ellison, Chairman and Founder of the Youth Impact Program (YIP), www.youthimpactprogram.org, was at the New Orleans Saints vs. Cincinnati Bengals game on Friday, August 14th where the Tulane Youth Impact Program participants were honored during half time ceremonies.
 
At the NFL preseason opener between the Saints and the Bengals, on Friday night in the Super Dome, the Tulane Youth Impact Program and its 130 boys were honored and recognized by the ownership of the New Orleans Saints, and performed during halftime. The young boys were "at-risk" youth from the New Orleans community who had just concluded a five week summer program at Tulane University where they were taught mathematics, language arts, life skills and football by student athletes of Tulane University and local teachers from the New Orleans area.
 
The Youth Impact Program provides the boys with transportation, clothing, food, football equipment, academic supplies and year round mentors. It is free to all of the participating boys. Six teams in full pads comprising all the boys played three full contact games simultaneously for 10 minutes during the halftime break.
 
The experience for these 12 to 14-year-old at-risk boys from the inner-city of New Orleans recognizes and rewards their achievements and dreams to play at a NFL game, as it was a dream come true to play in the Super Dome with the Saints. All these young men were also were involved in the pre-game introductions of the New Orleans Saints players and all watched the game on the field to see their role models.
 
Miss Rita Benson LeBlanc, Owner/Executive Vice President of the Saints, presented a certificate of appreciation to Tulane University Director of Athletics, Mr. Rick Dickson and the Founder of the Youth Impact Program, Mr. Riki Ellison during the game's half time ceremonies. The certificate of appreciation was presented on behalf of the Saints and cited Tulane University and the Youth Impact Program for a program that has helped to improve the community of New Orleans.
 
Mr. Jason Trosclair, Director of Youth Programs for the New Orleans Saints, coordinated the Saints involvement with the program at Tulane. The Tulane Youth Impact program is supported by Tulane University and Tulane President, Scott S. Cowen, the NFL's Youth Football Fund and private charitable donations to the Youth Impact Program. The Youth Impact Program is in its fourth year of existence. Three other inner cities that have the program in place today are Houston, Tampa, and Los Angeles. The website for all of the programs is www.youthimpactprogram.org where videos, photos and narrative define and explain the program.
 
Ellison closed by stating, "We firmly believe that these young boys' lives have been changed, and there is greater likelihood that these young people will be contributors to this community in the future."
 
Riki Ellison is available for interviews. Call Mike Terrill at 602 885-1955 to arrange.