AFL: Exclusive RUSH For Youth
Jarrod Rogol
November 21, 2005
* Photo: Bob McMillen with students
Credit: Chicago Rush
* Contains exclusive comments from Community Relations Manager Laura Visin, Etu Molden and Todd Howard.
Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a huge advocate for helping youth and that's why this was the perfect article to write. On the field they have that level of aggression, intensity, and tenacity, but off the field, they hold a different even higher degree of aggression, intensity, and tenacity, a level that any professional athlete MUST be looked at highly of for processing in today’s world.
The Chicago Rush are entering the fifth year of their award-wining program called “Rush To Read,” which is sponsored by LaSalle Bank and tragets third through eight graders. The program has many specific goals, “Our main goal is to get young men into reading. Each student involved in the program reads four books one each month for four months spanning from October through January. They then write a paper on each and are given ticket vouchers for Rush games,” said Visin.
Rush To Read,” gives the players a chance to give back to those who support them. Some of the players who’ve participated include; Etu Molden, Bob McMillen, and Todd Howard. “Growing up I had people come back to my community. When I go to these events, my focus is simple. Explain the mistake I made a youth and hopefully prevent them from making the same ones ,” said Molden.
Visin also recalled what Etu Molden likes about the “Rush To Read,” program, “Etu likes the fact that he can go in a relate to the youth. He doesn’t use a podium or microphone. He simply goes in and places them on the same level with him.”
It would be hard for Rush players to go and talk without having a favorite book, so luckily Todd Howard does, “Growing up, my favorite book was ‘The Whipping Boy,’ some other favorites are ‘Rich Dad Poor Dad,’ and ‘Life and Def,’ by Russel Simmons.” The “Rush To Read,” program means a lot to Howard who hails from Bolingbrook, IL during the off-season. “Being from Illinois, I’ve never been able to give back to high schools, my pop warner team, etc., and the Rush allow me the chance to do that. People in my position should use weight to help youth.”
This kind of program, isn’t possible though without the superior management, “I am very pleased by Rush’s involvement in community we do more work for Chicago then any other professional organization in the Chicago area, which speaks highly about everyone from President Mike Polisky, Coach Ditka and Coach Hohensee. They spend their time going to work with youth when they don’t have to.”
The Rush have done a great job with this program reaching 177 schools with about 10,000 students completing the program, and teachers and administrators are very positive about everything this program is doing.
The team’s reading program has taught students that setting and accomplishing additional reading goals can be very rewarding. Their hard work was rewarded with tickets to a Rush game and a visit from the players. I’m certain that this will motivate more students to participate next year, “said Pam Silverston, resource teacher, Brentwood Elementary (Des Plaines).
The ‘Rush To Read,’ program has helped insprie our children to read more books. Teachers also were very enthusiastic about the program. It also was very easy to orchestrate. We look forward to participating again next year,” said Patricia A. Gaines, reading specialist, Holmes School (Chicago).
Rush Upcoming Community Events
November 30th: British Home.
November 22nd: Oakbrook Terrace Salvation Army (Thanksgiving) - Coach Hohensee and Coach Housman.
December 23rd: Oakbrook Terrace Salvation Army (Christmas) - Coach Hohensee and Coach Housman.
Side Notes
McMillen will be honored at the 18th Chicago Sports Fan Choice Awards on Dec 8. as the Hometown Hereo humanitarian.
Molden also participated in an event on November 6th and 8th at the National Teachers Academy where he had a chance to talk with youth in the Chicago area.
Rush mascot Grabowski is named after Owner Mike Ditka’s reference to his old teams as the “Grabowskis.”
Coming Soon
We will be bringing you the 2006 AFL Preseason Awards. Where will the Rush land in the preseason rankings? Will Head Coach Mike Hohensee be the Preseason Coach of The Year? Will Etu Molden grab an honor, What AFL player will be the Preseason Adrenaline Award Winner?
Rush2006 Schedule *All Times (CT)
1/29 at Colorado Crush 2 p.m.
2/03 New York Dragons 7:30 p.m.
2/12 Nashville Kats 2 p.m.
2/18 at LA Avengers 9:30 p.m.
2/26 San Jose Sabercats 12 noon
3/05 Dallas Desperados 11 a.m.
3/10 Colorado Crush 7:30 p.m.
3/17 at Nashville Kats 7 p.m.
3/26 Grand Rapids Rampage 2 p.m.
4/02 at Orlando Predators 11 a.m.
4/09 at Philadelphia Soul 12 noon
4/15 at Arizona Rattlers 9 p.m.
4/23 Las Vegas Gladiators 3 p.m.
4/29 at Georgia Force 6 p.m.
5/06 Utah Blaze 7 p.m.
5/13 at Grand Rapids Rampage 6:30 p.m.
Official Site: CHICAGO RUSH
Credit: Chicago Rush
* Contains exclusive comments from Community Relations Manager Laura Visin, Etu Molden and Todd Howard.
Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a huge advocate for helping youth and that's why this was the perfect article to write. On the field they have that level of aggression, intensity, and tenacity, but off the field, they hold a different even higher degree of aggression, intensity, and tenacity, a level that any professional athlete MUST be looked at highly of for processing in today’s world.
The Chicago Rush are entering the fifth year of their award-wining program called “Rush To Read,” which is sponsored by LaSalle Bank and tragets third through eight graders. The program has many specific goals, “Our main goal is to get young men into reading. Each student involved in the program reads four books one each month for four months spanning from October through January. They then write a paper on each and are given ticket vouchers for Rush games,” said Visin.
Rush To Read,” gives the players a chance to give back to those who support them. Some of the players who’ve participated include; Etu Molden, Bob McMillen, and Todd Howard. “Growing up I had people come back to my community. When I go to these events, my focus is simple. Explain the mistake I made a youth and hopefully prevent them from making the same ones ,” said Molden.
Visin also recalled what Etu Molden likes about the “Rush To Read,” program, “Etu likes the fact that he can go in a relate to the youth. He doesn’t use a podium or microphone. He simply goes in and places them on the same level with him.”
It would be hard for Rush players to go and talk without having a favorite book, so luckily Todd Howard does, “Growing up, my favorite book was ‘The Whipping Boy,’ some other favorites are ‘Rich Dad Poor Dad,’ and ‘Life and Def,’ by Russel Simmons.” The “Rush To Read,” program means a lot to Howard who hails from Bolingbrook, IL during the off-season. “Being from Illinois, I’ve never been able to give back to high schools, my pop warner team, etc., and the Rush allow me the chance to do that. People in my position should use weight to help youth.”
This kind of program, isn’t possible though without the superior management, “I am very pleased by Rush’s involvement in community we do more work for Chicago then any other professional organization in the Chicago area, which speaks highly about everyone from President Mike Polisky, Coach Ditka and Coach Hohensee. They spend their time going to work with youth when they don’t have to.”
The Rush have done a great job with this program reaching 177 schools with about 10,000 students completing the program, and teachers and administrators are very positive about everything this program is doing.
The team’s reading program has taught students that setting and accomplishing additional reading goals can be very rewarding. Their hard work was rewarded with tickets to a Rush game and a visit from the players. I’m certain that this will motivate more students to participate next year, “said Pam Silverston, resource teacher, Brentwood Elementary (Des Plaines).
The ‘Rush To Read,’ program has helped insprie our children to read more books. Teachers also were very enthusiastic about the program. It also was very easy to orchestrate. We look forward to participating again next year,” said Patricia A. Gaines, reading specialist, Holmes School (Chicago).
Rush Upcoming Community Events
November 30th: British Home.
November 22nd: Oakbrook Terrace Salvation Army (Thanksgiving) - Coach Hohensee and Coach Housman.
December 23rd: Oakbrook Terrace Salvation Army (Christmas) - Coach Hohensee and Coach Housman.
Side Notes
McMillen will be honored at the 18th Chicago Sports Fan Choice Awards on Dec 8. as the Hometown Hereo humanitarian.
Molden also participated in an event on November 6th and 8th at the National Teachers Academy where he had a chance to talk with youth in the Chicago area.
Rush mascot Grabowski is named after Owner Mike Ditka’s reference to his old teams as the “Grabowskis.”
Coming Soon
We will be bringing you the 2006 AFL Preseason Awards. Where will the Rush land in the preseason rankings? Will Head Coach Mike Hohensee be the Preseason Coach of The Year? Will Etu Molden grab an honor, What AFL player will be the Preseason Adrenaline Award Winner?
Rush2006 Schedule *All Times (CT)
1/29 at Colorado Crush 2 p.m.
2/03 New York Dragons 7:30 p.m.
2/12 Nashville Kats 2 p.m.
2/18 at LA Avengers 9:30 p.m.
2/26 San Jose Sabercats 12 noon
3/05 Dallas Desperados 11 a.m.
3/10 Colorado Crush 7:30 p.m.
3/17 at Nashville Kats 7 p.m.
3/26 Grand Rapids Rampage 2 p.m.
4/02 at Orlando Predators 11 a.m.
4/09 at Philadelphia Soul 12 noon
4/15 at Arizona Rattlers 9 p.m.
4/23 Las Vegas Gladiators 3 p.m.
4/29 at Georgia Force 6 p.m.
5/06 Utah Blaze 7 p.m.
5/13 at Grand Rapids Rampage 6:30 p.m.
Official Site: CHICAGO RUSH