Hall of Famer Jim Brown Celebrates Students' Turnaround

Jim Brown's father wasn't around when he was growing up.

The Pro Football Hall of Famer, actor and activist credits one of his high school coaches in New York with being "like a second father" to him and helping steer him on the right path.

Today, Brown, considered one of the greatest American athletes of all time, tries to do the same for kids in need through his national Amer-I-Can Foundation program, which celebrated its annual Manatee County graduation ceremony Thursday.

About 350 students at Harllee, Johnson, Lincoln and Sugg middle schools completed the 60-hour life management skills course this year and were honored at , where Brown was the keynote speaker.

"Education is the power that we all can achieve," Brown told the students and parents assembled in the auditorium. "Each and every one of you has the ability to study, and to research and gain knowledge and wisdom. And once you do that, there's nothing you can't achieve."

Students like Cole Hufnus are living proof. Since joining Amer-I-Can, the 7th-grader at Lincoln Middle School has raised his GPA from a 2.7 to a 4.0.

"It helped me set my mind to my goals," Hufnus said.

Tyreshia Jackson, also a Lincoln student, used to get bad grades and get in trouble at school and at home.

"Now I'm a 3.8 kid who turned her life around, improved her attitude and (is) getting no referrals," Jackson said. "I was motivated and determined to change my life and attitude because I was on the verge of failing and not becoming the person I am to be."

Elisa Perales of Sugg Middle School was skeptical of the Amer-I-Can course at first.

"To be honest, at first I thought, 'This will get me out of P.E.,' " she said. Since then, she's come to appreciate the support and guidance her course facilitator, Roosevelt Atkins, provides.

"The thing I love is we can express our feelings when we're having a bad day," Perales said.

Brown, 75, said that's part of the reason he designed the course and founded the program 23 years ago after stepping away from a record-setting NFL career with the Cleveland Browns and success in Hollywood.

"I think when you pay attention to these kids, they feel engaged," Brown said. "And when you listen to them, they feel they have a voice."

Skip Wilhoit, coordinator of Manatee County Safe Schools, said Amer-I-Can came to Manatee in 2006 in the wake of the gang-related shooting death of 9-year-old Stacy Williams III, but the program isn't just geared toward gang prevention. It's about helping kids overcome obstacles and negative behaviors.

"It helps shine a spotlight on these issues and it shows you the better life that awaits you if you want to chase it down," Wilhoit said.

However, in a time of budget crunches and school funding cuts, programs like Amer-I-Can may find themselves on the chopping block. It cost the Manatee School District about $300,000 to administer Amer-I-Can in four schools this year. Superintendent Tim McGonegal said the program is being cut from Johnson Middle School next year for a savings of about $40,000, but his budget recommendation includes funding for the other three schools in the fall.

Brown credited the cooperative nature of Manatee County and the program's local supporters, many of whom were on stage at Thursday's ceremony. As students received their diplomas they shook hands with county commissioners, school board members and local law enforcement officials. Manatee native and former "American Idol" contestant Syesha Mercado performed the national anthem.

"It's a beautiful thing," Brown said. "It's what we're put here to do, to affect other people, particularly our children. It's what I love."