Proud Selma Native Brings Gridiron Know-How Home For Annual Michael Johnson Youth Football Camp

SELMA, AL, April 16, 2011 (Press-News.org) While one of Selma, Alabama's proudest [and definitely one of its tallest] natives; Michael Johnson brings the pain to his gridiron opponents every week during the NFL playing season, the Dallas County High School alum brings his heart of gold and athletic experience to area youth every spring during his Annual Michael Johnson Youth Football and Cheer Camp. The hometown hero and current Defensive End (#93) of the Cincinnati Bengals will host his 2nd camp and annual You Can Be Successful, Too fundraiser in Selma, May 20th-21st.

Open to children ages 8-17, the Annual Michael Johnson Youth Football and Cheer Camp offers football and cheer clinics to hundreds of local kids. The camp will benefit Johnson's MJ93 Fund You Can Be Successful, Too Initiative, which raises funds to reinvest in the local community through tutoring, mentoring, scholarships, camps and other youth-focused endeavors.
Johnson started the camp as a way to give back to his beloved Selma, Alabama, by passing on his athletic skills and passion for winning to future generations, while offering them a chance to train with a professional athlete and widening their horizons.

"I love working with kids and I sincerely enjoy helping them and offering them a broader perspective on life...this comes natural to me; if I wasn't playing football, I'd probably be teaching and coaching," said Michael Johnson. "Hosting my annual camp, gives me an opportunity to engage in two things I love, football and working with young people....the fact that I get to do it in the community that made me who I am, makes it a total win win!"

The weekend's event kicks off with the MJ93 Fund's You Can Be Successful, Too Fundraiser, which will feature an array of esteemed public figures born and raised in Selma. Johnson himself and Ms. Terri Sewell, the first African-American Congresswoman from the state of Alabama, will be speakers.

Other hometown guests include Tiffany E. Hamm (Chief for Department of International HIV Prevention, graduate of Lutheran Academy); Brian King (Athletic Director and graduate of Morgan Academy); LaNorma Huggins-Hopes (Entrepreneur, graduate of Selma High School); Austin Bradford (Financial Advisor for Merrill-Lynch, graduate of Dallas County High School); Paul Alexander (VP of Alexander Broadcasting Co., Inc., graduate of Morgan Academy); and Angelo Huggins (Human Relations Manager for Good Year Tire & Rubber Co.). Celebrity guests include Jai Miller (Oakland Athletics, graduate of Selma High School); Clinton McDonald (Cincinnati Bengals); Gary Guyton (New England Patriots); Darryl Richard (New England Patriots), Ben Obamanu (Seattle Seahawks and graduate of Selma High School) and more.

The You Can Be Successful, Too Fundraiser featuring a "Dinner by the Bite," and a silent auction of sports and other special memorabilia, will take place at Brownstone Manor in historic Selma; from 7-10pm. Tickets are $35.

Day two is reserved for the youth camps, which take place at Memorial Stadium. Boys ages 8-12 will learn fundamentals and skills from Michael Johnson along with other NFL and celebrity coaches from 8-11am; boys 13-17 participate from 1-6pm. Girls ages 12-17 will participate in the cheer camp from 8am-12 noon.

The mission of the youth camp is to give hundreds of kids the opportunity to expand their interest in athletics, earn honor roll recognition, and learn about NCAA requirements, eligibility & admissions, with the potential to earn a college scholarship, in a family friendly, fun environment.

The $45 registration can be completed online at http://www.mj93.com

2nd Annual MJ93 Fund Weekend Events

Friday, May 20th
You Can Be Successful, Too Fundraiser
Brownstone Manor
330 Lapsley Street
Selma, AL 36701
7pm-10pm
$35

Saturday, May 21st
Youth Football and Cheer Camps
108 Dallas Avenue
Selma, AL 36701
8am-6pm
$45

Sponsorship and Media inquiries contact Trea Davenport of Trea Day Management & Publicity at 678-327-8281 or TreaDayPR@gmail.com. To learn more or register, visit http://www.MJ93.org.