Cyclones Mentor Des Moines Youth at Boys & Girls Club
Iowa State football players spent Monday afternoon mentoring approximately 60 local youth at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Iowa in Des Moines. The clinic, hosted at the Ellis I. Levitt Club inside Carver Elementary School, focused on athletic drills, character building, and community connection. The event was facilitated by T-Mobile and featured several Cyclone players, including transfers and local returnees, who emphasized the importance of stepping out of comfort zones and giving back to the community.
Local Role Models Step Up for Des Moines Youth
For Zaimir Hawk, a redshirt junior defensive lineman, the event was deeply personal. As a former Boys & Girls Club member himself, Hawk felt compelled to return as a mentor and give back to the community that shaped him.
“Honestly it means a lot because I'm a former Boys & Girls Club member so just to be able to be a part of this just means a lot to me because I always wanted to be a part of something like this when I was younger,” Hawk said. “So just to be able to give back to the community and everybody else that supports us is a wonderful thing.”
Hawk emphasized the importance of pushing kids to try new things, noting that getting outdoors and camping put him outside his comfort zone as a child. He believes that challenge is exactly what young people need today to realize their full potential.
After watching the kids work through the defensive line drills, Hawk was impressed by the determination he saw on the field.
“If I'm being honest, a lot of these kids had a lot of potential. We need to recruit at the Boys & Girls Club,” Hawk said.
New Cyclone Transfers Connect with the Community
Several new Iowa State transfers made their first community appearances at the clinic, including Jaylen Raynor, Braden Smith, Tristan Exlin, Evan Boyd, and Trevor Fortenberry. Their involvement gave the 60 young participants a chance to interact with athletes who are quickly becoming local role models.
Raynor, a transfer from Arkansas State, expressed his appreciation for the passionate Iowa State fanbase and his excitement to play on the home side of Jack Trice Stadium this fall.
“It's a lot of fun to come out here, get involved with the community with some of my teammates just to have some fun and get some kids active and moving around,” Raynor said. “They pour so much into us with the support on every Saturday. [The fans] are super passionate. They're loving. They're consistent.”
Raynor is particularly looking forward to experiencing the famous “Juicy Wiggle” tradition from the home sideline, rather than the opposing one.
Private Partnership Fosters Character and Leadership
The event highlighted the power of private community partnerships. T-Mobile facilitated the clinic, continuing the legacy of community involvement previously established by US Cellular. Jenae Bradley, a regional manager for T-Mobile, explained that the goal was to help children build confidence and create a lasting bond with the athletes.
“Hopefully when they see those Iowa State Cyclones on the field this fall, they'll feel really connected and remember this day,” Bradley said.
Kim Peter, Corporate and Donor Engagement Coordinator for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Iowa, noted that the clinic directly aligns with the organization's core pillars of “Healthy Lifestyles” and “Character and Leadership.” She expressed gratitude for the three-way partnership with T-Mobile and Iowa State that enriched the Summer Club experience.
For Aiden Flora, an Iowa State player who played high school football just 30 minutes west of Carver Elementary, the camp was a homecoming. He stressed the importance of strong role models in young lives.
“It's awesome, these kids look up to us,” Flora said. “When we were little, we looked up to football players, like us too. It's awesome giving back to them. Hopefully we can spread some happiness in their lives.”
Building Confidence Through Athletics
Jerry Brantley, board president of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Iowa and a former college football player at Coe, highlighted how the seamless interaction between the players and the children created a unique environment for teaching skills and fostering confidence.
“This is a special day for these kids. Being able to have your local college athletes come, these athletes that have dedicated time, resources and energy to developing their skills, but not only that, their leadership and their character,” Brantley said. “Those are tenets that we like to teach here at the Boys & Girls Club.”
Brantley noted that showing kids there are adults who care about their development is critical. He was particularly impressed by the power and enthusiasm one young girl showed during the hitting drills. He added that the Iowa State players interacted with the youth as naturally as if they were official Boys & Girls Club staff.
The day concluded with a shared sense of pride and community spirit, which Hawk summed up perfectly with five words.
“Go Iowa State. Go Cyclones.”
What happened at the Iowa State Boys & Girls Club event?
Iowa State football players hosted a football clinic for approximately 60 kids at the Ellis I. Levitt Club inside Carver Elementary School in Des Moines. The players led drills, mentored the youth, and signed autographs to help build character and confidence.
Which Iowa State football players attended the Des Moines clinic?
Attendees included redshirt junior Zaimir Hawk, local product Aiden Flora, and transfers Jaylen Raynor, Braden Smith, Tristan Exlin, Evan Boyd, and Trevor Fortenberry.
How does the Boys & Girls Club benefit from private partnerships?
Private partnerships, like the one with T-Mobile for this event, allow the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Iowa to offer specialized programming, connect kids with positive role models, and reinforce core pillars like character and leadership without relying on government funding.