NFL Wide Receiver-Turned-Carpenter Apprentice Hosts 18th Annual Football Camp

Before he was a carpenter apprentice with Local 308 in Cedar Rapids, IA, Dedric Ward spent nearly a decade playing professional football. Each year Dedric uses his leadership and football skills he learned in the NFL to hold a free football camp for kids in and around the Cedar Rapids area. In its 18thyear, the camp hosts between 100-150 kids in grades 4-9 for the weekend camp.

This year, Dedric reached out to Business Representative Bob Doubek about the Council being a sponsor of the camp. Bob liked the idea immediately and worked with Dedric, others from the Council and Local 308, as well as area contractors to find additional sponsors for the camp. Several 308 members also helped at the camp and with set up and tear down.

“We need to support apprentices and members in what’s important to them,” Bob said. “This is yet one more way in which we support our communities.” He encourages other apprentices and members to reach out to a Business Representative if they have causes important to them and see if there are ways their Local or the Council can support them.