BROOKS' BUNCH EDUCATIONAL FIELD TRIPS

Believe not in just trying, believe in doing. Those eight simple words accurately describe the mission of Derrick Brooks Charities, Inc. The Brooks' Bunch concept is widely considered in NFL circles as one of the most successful player community initiatives in all of professional sports. Emulated and copied by players from other professional sports leagues, Derrick's program continues to set the standard of excellence and is the model by which all other player charitable programs are judged. Since its inception, Derrick has sought to provide his kids with the kind of once in a lifetime educational opportunities that they would not otherwise have access to. Additionally, he has been a stabilizing force and positive role model in the lives of hundreds of children throughout the Tampa Bay Area by not only taking them on trips, but by spending valuable time with the children at area Boys and Girls Clubs. The Brooks' Bunch concept has become an integral part of Derrick's life and has been an educational epicenter for the children he works with. Whether the group is working on a valuable life skills such as learning to properly construct a resume or reviewing the required skills that will successfully prepare them for an upcoming trip, the Brooks' Bunch program has provided stability and educational benefits that the kids will cherish and remember for a lifetime. The original Brooks' Bunch began at Tampa's Ponce de Leon Boys and Girls Club, but in an effort to reach even more children, Brooks expanded his program to include kids from Tampa's Ybor City and Brandon Boys and Girls Clubs. The trips have exposed the children to a wide variety of subjects, people from different cultures and backgrounds, and taught them invaluable lessons of how to plan, prepare, and travel outside of the continental United States. Additionally, these trips have given the Brooks' Bunch kids an identity that has provided Brooks a solid platform to elevate the hopes and dreams of a dedicated bunch of passionate teenagers in the Tampa Bay Area. The program - which emphasizes accountability and responsibility - teaches and reinforces valuable lessons that will assist the kids when they enter college, graduate school, or the business world. Derrick's goal is to simply be the best in everything he does and that message is passed along to the members of the Brooks' Bunch.

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