Hometown Pride and a Spirit of Giving
Joey Porter and BARC Clients at his 2009 Celebrity Golf Tournament
If you’ve lived in Bakersfield for any length of time, you know we take our sports seriously and local athletes that make it “big” reach iconic status quickly. We’ve had a wealth of athletes enjoy professional success; arguably the most recognizable of all is Foothill High graduate Joey Porter.
Most everyone in Kern County – even those who aren’t football fans – can recite some or all of Joey’s pertinent stats: two sports star athlete at Foothill High, Colorado State standout, third round draft pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers, Super Bowl champion with the Steelers, four time Pro-Bowler, former Miami Dolphin and current Arizona Cardinal. And many are quick to (repeatedly) point out his missteps as well —-an all too common consequence of living in the public eye.
What is largely unknown to the public at large is the spirit of generosity that quietly defines Joey Porter off the football field. An outspoken and often brash personality on the field, Joey is soft spoken off the field. He and his wife Christy could live anywhere but they have chosen to remain in Bakersfield to raise their family. Possessed with a strong sense of hometown pride, the Porters are generous benefactors to many organizations and active participants in the community. From their support of Foothill High to Bakersfield Memorial Hospital and several other groups, the Porters take their commitment to Bakersfield seriously.
Their own personal journey with their daughter Jasmine, who is autistic, has increased their involvement within the developmentally disabled community. They opened the Jasmine Nyree Day Center in 2008, a comprehensive child care facility catering to the needs of children with disabilities, including autism, Down’s syndrome and various levels of developmental disabilities. They have funded this venture largely out of their own pockets, a testament to the importance they have placed on helping others in our community.
On Friday, June 11th, Joey will, once again, bring a number of his NFL friends – Larry Fitzgerald, Ricky Williams, Ronnie Brown and Jerome Bettis, to name a few – to Bakersfield for a day of golf at Bakersfield Country Club. Cost to play is $250 per player and space is limited, so get your team in today! On Saturday, June 12th at Foothill High, Joey and the other NFL greats will share their skills with the youth of Bakersfield at the Joey Porter Football Camp. Cost for this day of skill building and fun is $50 and includes a great lunch. More information can be found on the BARC website (www.barc-inc.org) on the upcoming events page.
Last year for the first time, BARC was the recipient of the proceeds from the Joey Porter Celebrity Golf Tournament as well as the Football Camp. We are privileged to share that honor this year with the Jasmine Nyree Day Center. Come on out to one of these events and show your hometown pride.
