Superfeet Worldwide Inc. is the headline sponsor for the 2012 Koenen/Locker Youth Football Camp taking place June 25 in Ferndale.
The company will provide supportive premium insoles to all campers.
The camp provides the Ferndale-based insole maker a chance to offer foot support and foot health advice to more than 500 local youth and guest NFL camp leaders.
The nonprofit Michael Koenen Foundation and the Koenen/Locker Camp are the vision of NFL punter Michael Koenen, who will be joined in running the camp this year by NFL quarterback and former Ferndale-native Jake Locker.
Koenen played college football for Western Washington University and Locker for the University of Washington.
Their goal is to give back to their hometown community by investing in the potential of local youth.
“Our camp is free, but its lessons are invaluable,” Koenen said, in a press release. “Yes, we teach football fundamentals; yes, we have fun. However, our true goal is to teach our kids the importance of friendship, teamwork and responsibility. Those NFL players holding the whistles? They aren’t just camp counselors, they are role models who love building character and self-esteem.”
The one-day football camp began in 2010 with the aim to not only teach the fundamentals of football, but to emphasize the importance of staying in school and the potential for success through positive life choices.
This year, registration was open to 600 youth in two age categories, grades 3-6 and grades 7-9, with the younger group filling quickly to capacity.
Superfeet creative director Brent McCoy also grew up in the Ferndale and Bellingham area, and has been the creative lead for the Koenen Foundation since 2011.
“This year the camp was looking for a top sponsor, someone that fit the bill with the same core values and a similar sports interest,” McCoy said. “I introduced Koenen and Locker to Superfeet as an opportunity to help in our community, help kids and provide them with a free camp.”
Twenty Superfeet staff volunteers will attend the all-day event to hand out insoles to youth and answer questions.
In addition to complimentary Superfeet insoles for their cleats, all campers will receive a mini-football signed by the attending NFL “camp counselors” including Michael Koenen, Jake Locker, Frank Omiyale, Dekoda Watson, Adam Hayward and Boone Stutz.
The camp is also sponsored by local companies BP, Mccoycreative, Silver Reef Casino, as well the Whatcom Community Foundation.
