The Corporation to Develop Communities of Tampa, Inc. Honors Four NFL Community Champions at 21st Anniversary Luncheon

On Wednesday, Oct. 15, the Corporation to Develop Communities of Tampa, Inc. (CDC of Tampa) celebrated 21 years of serving the community through programs focused on home ownership and preservation, job training and placement, and youth leadership.

The CDC of Tampa’s “Be Inspired to Inspire” program also honored Derrick Brooks of Derrick Brooks Charities, Tyrone Keys of All Sports Community Services (ASCS), Teran Bell on behalf of the late Theo Bell and Warrick Dunn of Warrick Dunn Charities with the Nehemiah Community Builders Award. This award is given annually to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, commitment and generosity in Hillsborough County throughout the year.

“The NFL is proud of the efforts of Tyrone Keys, Derrick Brooks, Theo Bell and Warrick Dunn,” said NFL VP of Community Relations and Philanthropy, Anna Isaacson. “They represent the very best, and their charitable efforts help exemplify the work of hundreds of active and former NFL players who are contributing to their communities in meaningful ways each and every day.”

Through their charities and community efforts, Brooks, Keys, Bell and Dunn have worked to inspire the citizens who reside within the under-served communities in Tampa and Hillsborough County, Fla. to achieve personal and financial sustainability through the services offered by the CDC of Tampa.

“These former NFL players continue to make such a positive impact in Hillsborough County,” said Chief Executive Officer at CDC of Tampa, Ernest Coney. “We are so appreciative of their hard work and dedication and look forward to strengthening our partnership to create even more opportunities for families within our community.”

“This award represents a high degree of validation of the work ASCS has done for the last twenty years because of the spiritual principal of love that it represents,” said Tyrone Keys. “Being honored with former players Warrick Dunn, Derrick Brooks and the late Theo Bell, provides an example to other athletes and NFL players. They demonstrate the importance of better serving our struggling youth and families.”

The honorees have excelled in the areas of youth mentoring and leadership development, job training and placement, home ownership counseling and vocational training.

“I have valued our partnership with the CDC of Tampa over the years and I am humbled to have received this award.” said Derrick Brooks. “I am grateful to be a part of the CDC’s efforts in making a difference in this community. It is just amazing how much we can accomplish when we work together to help make life better for others.

“Though each of them excelled on the field, the work there are doing to help change this community may really be their legacy,” said Coney.

About CDC of Tampa
The Corporation to Develop Communities of Tampa, Inc. (CDC of Tampa) creates opportunities for people to improve their lives and strengthen their communities by providing access to job training and placement, affordable housing and youth programs. The CDC was incorporated in 1992 for the purpose of alleviating poverty and physical deterioration in Hillsborough County’s East Tampa community. CDC of Tampa is a charter member of the NeighborWorks® network, consisting of 240 private nonprofit affiliates that work in nearly 4,500 urban, rural and suburban communities nationwide.