GREENVILLE – The 30th annual free Matt Light All-Conference Football Camp booked out almost immediately with 250 campers registering along with 50 Light Leaders and a large coaching staff.
A Greenville graduate, Matt Light spent his entire 11-year career (2002-2011) with the New England Patriots playing a major role in leading the Patriots to 11 consecutive winning seasons, including nine division championships, five conference titles and three Super Bowls titles.
The former Patriots offensive lineman, a three-time Pro Bowler and three-time Super Bowl champions was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2018.
“It’s been another incredible year,” said Light. “Each year we leave here very satisfied with not just the way the camp ran but how these kids treated the coaches and the way they conducted themselves.”
“We talk a lot to these kids about the fact that when you’re here at this camp you’re representing the Light Foundation and you’re representing yourselves too. We have so many people that support this work. To have the Greenville City Schools respect the way this camp is run which is indicative again of the kids, to have our sponsors be satisfied with the fact that not only are they helping to support something but that these kids conducted themselves the way they did.”
“That’s what we leave here saying to ourselves,” Light continued. “What a great group of young people and they could be doing anything. They could be sitting at home on a laptop or a cell phone but they chose to wake up and get here, they got here early. They put in a lot of effort for two days and we’re proud of them.”
Greenville athletic director, Aaron Shaffer directs the camp along with the Light Foundation staff.
“The organization that goes into it from the Foundation with Brandi, Troy and Brian, all the help that comes along to organize, all the administrative aspects of the camp, to all of our coaches that we have helping – it’s a great camp that teaches fundamentals, lets kids have some fun but at the same time we’re focusing on character building, service leadership, leading others through service, teaching our young people that it’s ok to give your time to someone else,” said Shaffer. “It’s just an awesome camp that has been going on for years and years and years. I am humbled to be able to be a part of it and that Matt and his staff have me be a part of it. It’s just a great camp.”
Light and Shaffer were football teammates playing for the Greenville Green Wave. Light went on to play football for the Purdue Boilermakers and the Patriots while Coach Shaffer was an All-American playing for the Wittenberg University Tigers football program.
“What’s really cool is that we grew up together and Coach Shaffer has invested so much into this community and in the athletic program as a coach and as an AD,” Light stated. “But what is special for him this year is that his son AJ is out here coaching. He’s a kid that went through this camp, watched his dad coach him a million hours and now he’s out here and he’s working on that Shaffer 2.0. It is going to be fun to watch AJ mature as a coach.”
“Coach Shaffer put in a lot of effort here and he does each and every year since taking over for Larry Masters,” added Light. “We are fortunate to have him.”
The Light Foundation Core Values include:
Accountability: We hold ourselves to the highest standards of leadership. Our mission is at the forefront of everything we do.
Hard Work: We believe through hard work and achievement, self–confidence is built. This is one of the best defenses a child can have against negative influences.
Collaboration: We partner with schools, community and business leaders, and other organizations to maximize our impact and create meaningful programs for kids.
Nature: The power of the outdoors is indescribable. We use the outdoors to inspire young people to broaden their horizons and see greater potential in their lives.
Faith & Service: We instill confidence, positive beliefs, and attitudes in young people, so they are better equipped to face life’s challenges and serve others.
Youth: We embody high expectations of, and respect for, the young people we serve. We make organizational decisions based on what is best for them.
Light shared his appreciation for his Light Foundation Staff following the two-day free football camp.
“Part of what I love the most, if we’re putting in all this work they need to see that the people that are wearing the logos for the Light Foundation, they need to see that the staff is leading by example because it’s easy to preach to people but I’ve always been a big fan of watching those that are telling me how to do things to see what they do,” Light shared. “I’m blessed. I get to work alongside people that actually really care about others, who sacrifice their time and if their job is to mow they’re also doing five million other things. You know why…because they see a need and that speaks volumes to anybody’s character. We are blessed to have that within our group.”
