Pennsylvania School Honors Community Members at Football Games

For the past two fall sports seasons, the Upper Perkiomen School District (Pennsburg, Pennsylvania) football program has implemented a program before the start of each home game to recognize the value of community members within the school-community. Under second-year head coach Dan Heinrichs, the Upper Perk football team instituted the “Community Captain” recognition program to honor and recognize community members who have put the community before themselves and who serve the community of the Upper Perkiomen Valley with pride and continued efforts to keep “the Valley” a great and safe place in which to reside.

Before the start of each home football game, the selected “Community Captains” walk onto the field alongside the football team’s player captains where they witness the coin toss. After the coin toss, the “Community Captains” remain at midfield while an announcement is made describing the individual’s contributions to the community as they are celebrated for their service to the Upper Perkiomen community and its residents. Honorary “Community Captains” that have been recognized over the past two years include:

• A dedicated Assistant Director of Open Link organization, an agency serving local residents in need

• President of the local Business and Profession Women’s Club chapter

• Founder of the local Veterans Brotherhood and author of multiple books on Vet issues

• Upper Perkiomen Police Chief with a long career in local law enforcement

• Longtime Chief of the Upper Perkiomen Ambulance Association

• Upper Perkiomen Education Foundation CEO and Past Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce

• Lifetime East Greenville Fire Company Volunteer and local Fire Marshall

• Founder and Owner of Bike and Sol bicycle shop – A bike shop that mentors youth

• Longtime Member and former President of the local Kiwanis Chapter

• Retired military veteran and longtime Upper Perkiomen School District coach

• 40-year Sunday School teacher and lifetime local volunteer

The ultimate goal of the “Community Captains” program is to make Friday night football games a “WE” night for the entire school-community and highlight the importance of volunteerism and service on the local level. The “WE” culture is a mindset Coach Heinrichs has implemented in the football program by establishing the “WE OVER ME” belief that is practiced by the members of the team.

The “Community Captains” program is an opportunity where the school-community can gather on a Friday night and share in the emotions that are a part of the game of football. The hope and intention are to build a place of welcoming where the community can see old friends, colleagues, alumni and cherish the special nights shared every fall on a Friday night in the Upper Perkiomen Valley.

As a team, there is an opportunity to serve and respect the community. Heroes do not usually wear capes… they wear camouflage, uniforms, red crosses or everyday clothes. They are people who others count on as a community and school – people who devote themselves and put the “WE” over the “ME” to help others.

The program strives to honor these people and give them a spotlight where their peers and thankful neighbors can proudly stand and applaud, which is a small gesture for what some of these people do and have done, but a big task that the team takes pride in every home game. It seems simple to walk out on a 50-yard line for the coin toss with team captains; however, it is the simplest things in life that tend to be overlooked at times. From ambulance workers, veterans, first responders, community organization leaders and people who simply keep giving… the honor is worth the effort.

As the “Community Captains” program continues, the Upper Perkiomen football team hopes that nominations will continue to be submitted so that more can be honored who walk the streets and keep the community proud, safe and stand tall no matter the obstacle. By engaging these incredible community members in the football program, the student-athletes get to see firsthand that doing the right thing and being servant leaders pays off for many.

When the student-athletes shake the “Community Captains” hand, thank them, and understand that their high school football days will end, but being a valued member of society and community is something they will carry with them for a lifetime. All of this has proven to be as important for the band, cheerleaders and football student-athletes as it is for the community.

The Upper Perkiomen Valley is by most standards a small hometown community. It is home for the football student-athletes, and they are often reminded by the coaching staff that being from a small town is not a weakness, but an honor and a strength that goes with them every day.