It was a great Friday! On May, 3, 2019 Mile High United Way partnered with the Denver Broncos and Everfi to host the Character Playbook Experience at the UCHealth Training Center!
Character Playbook is a digital initiative that educates students on how to cultivate and maintain healthy relationships during their critical middle school years. In partnership with Mile High United Way and the Denver Broncos, Character Playbook was brought to life through the Character Playbook Experience at the UCHealth Training Center.
Denver Broncos cheerleaders and players, including Casey Kreiter, and twenty volunteers from Mile High United Way, Anadarko, JE Dunn, Mortenson Construction, Davis Partnership, and Farmers Insurance all came out for the volunteer-led event.
The event kicked off with a great panel discussion to address the importance of character.
Casey Kreiter shared with students that “Character is representing yourself, especially when you’re alone and no one is watching. Part of it is making mistakes and that’s okay! As long as we learn from our mistakes and are not afraid to ask for help. You’re in charge of your own life, so make sure to take care of yourself.”
Eddie Koen, Chief Impact Officer of Mile High United Way, added that “Character is knowing what’s right and what’s wrong. Your values help bring your character to life! Make sure to surround yourself with people who have the same values as you. Be persistent, determined, communicate, and keep trying. You’re building your futures!”
Students also got the opportunity to ask the panel questions and they weren’t shy about it. They asked the hard questions. “How do you make hard decisions?” “What are some tools to help you with stress?” “Who do you admire?” And a stand-out, “What are some positive ways you can use social media?”
Casey Kreiter took point on that one. “My teammate Demaryius Thomas would only tweet positive messages. That’s what I make sure to do – surround myself with positivity and make sure to promote positivity – especially on social media.”
That wasn’t all for the day. Students got to participate in several activities that showed them what character is all about. The goal of the activities was to combine good character habits with physical activity. Activities included: a pass rush drill (to demonstrate effort), pass and catch (to demonstrate communication), field goal kicking (to demonstrate focus), a 40-yard dash (to demonstrate determination), a QB challenge (to demonstrate vision), and an obstacle course (to demonstrate perseverance).
At the end of the day, students were tired from a good workout, inspired by their peers and mentors, and reminded that they are very important people.
