The Bears continued to support Crucial Catch initiatives throughout the month of October while celebrating youth and high school football.
Advocate Surprise: Javon Wims surprised participants in an Advocate Cardio Strength Class at Advocate Lutheran General–Cancer Survivorship Center by helping to lead stretches and distributing gift bags. He also surprised life-long Bears fan and breast cancer survivor, Jolanta Krysztopa, with a customized jersey as well as tickets and pregame field passes to an upcoming Bears game thanks to our Community Connections program brought to you by Jewel Osco.
Hometown Grant: The Chicago Bears, in partnership with Midwest Dairy, awarded two Elgin U-46 schools, Lords Park Elementary and Ellis Middle School, with a $10,000 NFL Hometown Grant to support the schools' nutrition and physical activity programs. The assembly featured an appearance by David Montgomery and Staley Da Bear. Developed by the NFL and Fuel Up to Play 60 in 2014, the initiative provides grants to support physical activity and nutrition programs in school districts in 32 NFL markets.
High School Coach and All-Star of the Week: Adam Nissen of St. Laurence High School in Burbank, IL, was named the Chicago Bears High School "Coach of the Week" for Week 7 and running back Ian Ridge of Elk Grove High School in Elk Grove Village, Ill., was named the Chicago Bears "High School All-Star." Nissen and the Vikings (4-3) tallied a 21-10 win at Brother Rice (4-3) on October 11 to keep their postseason hopes alive; Brother Rice was ranked No. 10 in the Illinois Class 7A AP Rankings at the time. Ridge, a junior, registered a school-record 422 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in the Grenadiers (2-5) 59-33 win at Wheeling (0-7) last Friday. His 422 rushing yards are tied for 18th in IHSA history. The "Coach of the Week" and "High School All-Stars" programs are brought to you by Athletico Physical Therapy.
Mini Monsters Clinics: The Bears hosted two Mini Monsters Clinics brought to you by Advocate Health Care this past week. One clinic was held at Whittier Elementary School with alumnus Anthony Morgan and the other was held at Anderson Elementary School with alumnus Jim Schwantz. Local police officers also helped out at Whittier Elementary School. So far this year, more than 10,000 kids have participated in Mini Monsters Clinics, which is a free 90-minute youth program that stresses the importance of healthy eating, physical activity and proper hydration through fun, non-contact football drills.
