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"This event means a great deal to the kids," said John Havron, Executive Vice President for United Way. "This is our team, this is our community. The blending you get with United Way, the kids and the Titans organization is huge. And for many of these kids, this is the high point of their entire year."
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"It's rewarding for me to come here and give back," said Thornton. "I like to come to this area and reach out to the kids, because a lot of them come from a similar background to what I had. There's a lot of potential and talent in these kids and it's good to encourage them in everything they do."
At the close of the event, the players and cheerleaders encouraged the youth to eat properly, stay hydrated and get 60 minutes of active play every day as part of the NFL's Play60 campaign. In addition, each of the youth took home a Titans poster, notebook and yearbook.
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"United Way is very proud of the partnership with the Titans. I've met some kids in my time at United Way and they reflect on the few minutes they got to spend with a pro-athlete and all they were thinking was 'Somebody thought I was important enough to make time for me.' It's really a special moment in their lives."
The Martha O'Bryan Center provides services to youth in the second grade through high school with after-school programs to further develop skills acquired in the classroom. The center began as a ministry in 1894, founded by Martha O'Bryan and focused its efforts to provide food, clothing and furniture to families in need. In the 1940s the center moved to its current location in East Nashville due to the construction of the James A. Cayce Homes.
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