A handful of football camps led by NFL players are coming to the Washington region this summer.
The NFL Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the league, on Thursday announced $1 million in grants to support 400 camps, including two planned in the District and a third in Maryland.
Several Washington Commanders will host camps in their hometowns. The players include defensive tackle Daron Payne, cornerback Mike Sainristil, offensive lineman Trent Scott and running back Jeremy McNichols.
With most Commanders leaving the Washington region for their camps, the nation’s capital will feature camps from Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Christian Braswell, Atlanta Falcons safety DeMarcco Hellams and Los Angeles Rams cornerback Josh Wallace.
Braswell and Wallace will host dueling camps at Friendship Collegiate Academy in the District and Whitemarsh Park in Bowie, Maryland, on June 21.
Hellams will lead a clinic at Eastern High School on July 12.
“For more than 25 years, the NFL Foundation has been proud to support the incredible efforts of the NFL family in growing the game of football and ensuring that youth have the opportunity to stay active and healthy through America’s favorite sport,” said NFL Vice President of Philanthropy and Executive Director of the NFL Foundation Alexia Gallagher.
League officials said the free, noncontact camps will focus on underserved communities throughout the country. A similar series of events last year drew more than 60,000 participants.