All-Pro Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II is making waves off the field with his foundation, dedicated to transforming educational opportunities for underserved youth. Inspired by his father, Patrick Surtain Sr., who also ran a foundation during his NFL career, the younger Surtain aims to level the playing field for financially disadvantaged students. “Growing up, I was fortunate to receive a great education,” Surtain II says. “I know how important it is to have the right resources. I want kids in the inner-city to have access to the same resources as private schools or suburban schools.”
Fueled by the belief that access to these resources can inspire students to dream big, the foundation’s flagship initiative, “Patrick’s Inspiration Rooms,” is at the heart of its outreach efforts. These innovative spaces nurture science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) education through features like wall graphics, 3D printers, robotics, music recording software and equipment, coding software, and other resources. “Finding your passion or your calling can be tough in today’s world,” says Surtain II. “Having access to STEAM education can help open students’ eyes to the possibilities of their future career paths.”
Why focus on STEAM? For Surtain II, it’s personal. His commitment to a well-rounded education reflects his own diverse interests and experiences. “I added ‘arts’ to the normal STEM education because of my passion for fashion and music,” he says. “I wanted to be able to provide the students with software that could teach them skills like music production, graphic design, photography, and more.”
Initially, Surtain II planned to award a $50,000 grant to the winner of his Game Plan Pitch Day in October. However, his generosity extended to the runner-up with another $50,000 grant, allowing students from both schools to benefit from the new STEAM-based Inspiration Rooms.
“Since earlier this year, we’ve been working with the schools to gather their wish lists to make sure the students and teachers have what they need to take their STEAM education to the next level,” says Surtain II.
As the new school year gets underway, students at Manual High School in Denver’s Whittier neighborhood and George Washington High School in Washington Virginia Vale can explore and create in the new Inspiration Rooms. Surtain II will be stopping by the schools this fall for the official ribbon cuttings, where he’ll have the chance to meet more of the students impacted by the program.
Looking ahead, Surtain II plans to expand the program to two more area high schools and host another Game Plan Pitch Day. Local students will once again have the chance to compete for a $50,000 grant to install an Inspiration Room at their school. “We’ll be announcing soon when the applications launch for the schools to start applying for our next Inspiration Rooms,” says Surtain II.
To support these efforts and secure the funds needed, the foundation organizes events like the inaugural Football 2 Fashion fundraiser in June, where Surtain II shared his passion for fashion with supporters while raising dollars for teacher grants. Coming up this fall, the second annual Inspire The Dream Gala is taking place on Friday, October 11, 2024.
Want to get involved? Visit the site patricksurtain.org to donate and support its mission.
