In a brand new period of title, picture and likeness alternatives for faculty athletes, Julian Calvez is utilizing his stature to profit causes near his coronary heart.
Calvez, a Grambling State signee, is internet hosting a free star-studded “neighborhood hero” soccer camp May 14 at Jones High School. The occasion, which advantages the Brain Cancer Foundation, runs 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and contains meals vehicles and a celeb kickball recreation.
Calvez mentioned he expects Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer and Orange County mayor Jerry Demings to be in attendance alongside former faculty and NFL gamers with native ties, together with Ike Taylor, Dee Brown, Chris Johnson and Garrett Johnson, amongst others.
“We’re hoping to have a good atmosphere out there,” Calvez mentioned. “It’s more than just a football camp. It’s a community day for everybody to come out and have some fun.”
Calvez, who led Jones to the Class 6A state semifinals as a senior whereas passing for 3,134 yards and 26 touchdowns, was named to the Orlando Sentinel all-area first staff for the 2021 season.
After graduating from Jones on May 24, he leaves for Louisiana the following day to hitch head coach Hue Jackson at Grambling State, which belongs to one in every of two soccer conferences made up of traditionally Black faculties and universities.
Calvez’s soccer camp is sponsored and hosted by Coinlete, a Utah-based firm based by former athletes that goals to bridge the hole between sports activities and enterprise and assist facilitate internships.
Camp registration is obtainable at CoinleteX.com.
Among Coinlete’s purchasers is Lakeland Lake Gibson’s Jaylon Glover, an early enrollee on the University of Utah who was named Florida Dairy Farmers Mr. Football earlier this yr.
“Julian immediately knew what he wanted to do as far as NIL went when he reached out to us and wanted to get involved,” Coinlete vice chairman Tyan Brinar mentioned. “A lot of times when we hear from athletes they just want money deals. With Julian it was a little different. He was more centered on the business aspect of it, and the first thing he said he wanted to do was a camp.”
Instead of charging $40 for the camp and leaving for faculty with some cash in his pocket, Calvez is elevating funds for the Brain Cancer Foundation in reminiscence of Aaron Wilson, who was recognized with a midline glioma tumor two years in the past.
Calvez and Wilson performed youth sports activities towards one another in center faculty earlier than forging an in depth friendship as freshmen teammates at West Orange. Wilson, who was a extremely touted defensive finish, performed at Ocoee as a sophomore and deliberate to do the identical at St. Francis Academy in Baltimore.
Wilson died final April at age 17.
“It’s given me a different outlook on life and put things into perspective,” Calvez mentioned of Wilson’s passing. “I thought this would be a cool way to give back.”
Calvez credit his mother and father with serving to make the thought a actuality.
“My parents raised me right,” he mentioned. “They’ve always encouraged me to give back whenever I was at a level or had a platform where I could do something like that.”
It didn’t take lengthy for Brinar to comprehend Calvez was distinctive.
“Not everybody is built like him. He’s a special kid,” Brinar mentioned. “I talk to college athletes all the time, so I’m hearing different things left and right from them. Julian is less worried about making money vs. making an impact on his community. I think that’s bigger than anything.”
This article initially appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email J.C. Carnahan at [email protected].
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Source: www.bostonherald.com