Hall of Fame Finalist Nine-Time Pro Bowler Encourages Miami’s At-Risk Students

Jan. 25, 2010 - PRLog -- MIAMI FL-  Every 29 seconds a high school student gives up on school. National surveys reveal more than 1 million American high school students drop out each year. High school dropouts are more likely to commit crimes, live in poverty and receive and stay on government assistance.

Miami is hosting the 2010 Pro Bowl game where the NFL showcases their All-Star players. Hall of Fame Finalist Tim Brown and Chaplain of the Oakland Raiders Adam Ybarra collaborated to encourage Miami’s at-risk students during week of Pro Bowl by organizing Take A Stand. Take A Stand is a motivational campus event designed to inspire students to Take A Stand for their education purpose and community. Take A Stand will be conducted at numerous schools throughout Miami. Research shows that the more support youth have, both inside and outside of the classroom, the more likely they are to stay in school.

Brown is a nine-time Pro Bowler and 17-year veteran of the NFL, and holds Oakland Raider records for receptions, receiving yards, and total yards from scrimmage. Aside from his successful playing career, Brown was awarded the "2004 Pop Warner Inspiration to Youth Award," presented to an individual who has inspired the youth of today to become great achievers of tomorrow.

Ybarra knows what it’s like to have no hope or motivation. Growing up in San Jose, California, Ybarra found himself a child of divorce and welfare, and turned to using and selling drugs to survive, radically changed his life resulting in speaking face to face to over 350,000 youth across America and Africa about taking a stand for education. On April 4, 2010, Easter Sunday , Chaplain Ybarra is launching Bridge Point Church in Alameda, California.  
   
Brown and Ybarra have assembled an All-Star Take A Stand Celebrity line-up including Kenyon Coleman of the Cleveland Browns, Brady Quinn of the Cleveland Browns, Richard Bartel of  the Washington Redskins,  Grammy Award Winner Jamie Jones from Multi-Platinum ALL-4-ONE and Deezer D from the NBC's Award winning TV series, "ER" .

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The Tenacious Group is an organization committed to provide services to help young people become all they were designed to be. Since 1996 we have reached thousands of young people across America and in Africa. Our message is of purpose and destiny.