Courtesy Photo | Major Ruth Kehoe, commanding officer of Recruiting Station Dallas, and Captain Samuel...... read more read more
Dallas-based recruiters have a new partner to help block and tackle their way through recruiting this upcoming season. In collaboration with Marine Corps Recruiting Command, 8th Marine Corps District is partnering with LaDainian Tomlinson’s Touching Lives Foundation as part of the growing City Partnership Program between the district and the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.
While each recruiting district is partnered with a city who shares their fighting spirit for innovation and service within the community, 8th District kicked off MCRC’s latest initiative with a program for locals, by locals.
Project 21 is a cross-sector partnership with the LT Academy and Tomlinson’s Touching Lives Foundation focused on student-athlete leadership development, parent and community engagement founded by former National Football League and Texas Christian University star LaDainian Tomlinson. The program exists as one of several Tomlinson’s Touching Lives Foundation initiatives which enhance the lives of deserving families in the Dallas-Fort Worth area by promoting education, social and cultural awareness. More specifically, Project 21 focuses on adolescent reasoning, character development, leadership training, and positive self-esteem to ensure the success of student-athletes in the local community.
“Working alongside LaDainian’s Project 21 as part of his Team America initiative embodies the Marine Corps’ commitment to producing elite citizens and developing deep relationships through city partnerships within the very communities we both live and serve,” said Cliff Dean, a former Marine and Chief Operations Officer for the Foundation.
The budding partnership between the Foundation and the Dallas-Fort Worth recruiters has already started to see results.
“Where Project 21 is being executed we see a direct impact in shaping future leaders with exposure to disciplined habits of both mind and body, as well as commitment to service, which both Marines and professional athletes live by,” said Dean. “The close teamwork between our staffs results in a lasting impact benefiting both the student-athletes and the schools they belong to.”
For the Marines of Recruiting Station Dallas, the Foundation’s core values of character, education and performance resonate in their daily interactions with student-athletes. Furthermore, its founder serves as a reminder that one’s legacy is not defined by individual success, but rather by one’s contribution to the community.
“LaDainian Tomlinson understands the meaning of service before self and lives it by example,” said Maj. Ruth Kehoe, commanding officer of Recruiting Station Dallas. “He is a visionary. His actions and his words are incredibly inspirational, especially for the high-school athletes we see as part of the program.”
While the newfound partnership continues to grow, this is not the first time the two teams have worked together.
“I worked and trained with Marines during my playing days in San Diego; they embody selflessness, as does all our military, and I knew when I built this vision I wanted to include them in the conversation,” stated Mr. Tomlinson. “I am proud and excited to be working with them to build bridges between our communities.”
For his professional achievements, LaDainian Tomlinson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame August 5, 2017, in Canton, Ohio. While he has long retired his cleats, the former athlete continues to make great strides throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth region.
“Like the Marine Corps, the Tomlinson Foundation is focused on developing leaders and active contributors in local communities who share a passion for service,” said Kehoe. “Our Marines are proud to join his team of coaches and volunteers.”
| Date Taken: | 08.16.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 08.16.2017 10:25 |
| Story ID: | 245013 |
| Location: | DALLAS, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 281 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Dallas Marines Kick Off City Partnership with Pro Football Hall of Famer, by CPT Michael Maggitti, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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