Former College and NFL Players Help PCSO 'Cops for Kids'

Former Green Bay Packer and Super Bowl Champion Eric Matthews hosted a football camp for local youth at P.B. Ritch Middle School in Paulding County on May 31.

Matthews founded and runs the non-profit organization E-Matt Athletics which helps at risk youth.

Matthews, who was a wide receiver for the 1997 Green Bay Packers Super Bowl Champion team, decided that he wanted to give back to the community when he retired from the NFL. He hosts football camps and other activities to help keep at risk kids out of trouble.

Matthews, who has donated to the Cops for Kids Christmas shopping program in the past, contacted the Sheriff’s Office and wanted to open up 20 spaces in his football camp to Cops for Kids children.

Nineteen children who participate in the Cops for Kids program were able to go Matthews’ football camp free of charge. Once the camp had concluded, Matthews asked Corporal Ashley Henson with the Sheriff’s Office to come and speak to the kids about some of the common mistakes kids can make and how to avoid any trouble with law enforcement.

Matthews also had several former College and NFL players assisting him with the camp. James Mathis (Cleveland Browns), Stephon Adams (Oakland Raiders), Super Bowl Champion Keith Henderson (San Francisco 49’ers), Robert Hicks (Buffalo Bills), Bobby Presley (Ole’ Miss University), and Leonard Bryant (Indiana University) all assisted with the camp.

Sheriff Gary Gulledge stated, “It’s nice to know that we have such dedicated former professional athletes in our community that have committed so much time and effort into helping our youth. I want to thank Eric and all of the other athletes that helped put this football camp together.”

The Paulding County Sheriff’s Office appreciates Eric Matthews’ assistance with the Cops for Kids program and encourages anyone that wants to contribute to the Cops for Kids program to contact Lt. Tracy Parker at the Sheriff’s Office at 770-443-3010.

— Paulding County Sheriff’s Office press release