Keion Carpenter featured in July/August edition of 'Urban Influence'
(BALTIMORE - August 9, 2008) - Since leaving the NFL in 2007, former Atlanta Falcons’ Safety Keion Carpenter has embarked upon a bold philanthropic mission by reaching out to communities of color through his foundation, The Carpenter House, Inc. as well as, collaborating with other charities. And, he is showing no signs of slowing down. With a schedule that could rival a pro season roster, the 30-year-old Baltimore native has been speaking to youth up and down the East Coast about the importance of getting a good education, developing good character traits, and pursuing their dreams.
In the July/August issue of Urban Influence Magazine’s “Men of Influence” cover story, which also features Actor Will Smith and New Edition’s Michael Bivens, Carpenter shares why each day is more rewarding and fulfilling now than ever before.
Carpenter stated, “Even though my love and passion for football will never ever go away…I have a similar and more profound passion and love for my many off-the-field initiatives.”
“I played eight years in the NFL and you probably didn’t hear about me. And, that is okay,” says Carpenter. “But, now that I am retired and doing what I know I was destined to do, you will hear about me.”
BACKGROUND ON KEION CARPENTER:
Former NFL safety Keion Carpenter is founder of The Carpenter House, Inc., a Maryland based not-for-profit organization designed to empower underprivileged families by helping them become homeowners. The organization concentrates primarily on single-parent families in the Baltimore area, with hopes of expanding nationwide. Founded in 2005, at the height of his football career with the Atlanta Falcons, Carpenter has since retired (in 2007) from the NFL; turning his complete focus to his lifelong goal of working to improve the communities of Baltimore City.
A star for the Virginia Tech “Hokies” from 1995-1999, Carpenter is Virginia Tech's all-time record-holder for blocked punts. He received a Bachelor's degree in Residential Property Management while also studying Housing Interior Design and Resource Management.
In 1999, Carpenter signed a contract as a rookie free agent with the NFL's Buffalo Bills. He spent three seasons in Buffalo as a starter free safety before signing a free-agent contract with the Atlanta Falcons in March of 2002.
Carpenter was a guiding force in the secondary unit in his second season in Atlanta, playing in 31 games with 24 starts. He finished with a career-high 73 total tackles in 2002. Carpenter rebounded from a neck injury suffered in a Divisional Playoff game in Philadelphia in 2003 and went on to play another season. He officially retired in 2007 after an eight-year NFL career. Having had a great passion for sports since the tender age of three, Carpenter now knows that his purpose in life is to use the platform that football provided to reach out and help others.
Along with his many community endeavors, Carpenter remains involved in the NFL through his presence as guest analyst on Atlanta’s Falcons Extra – a weekly program that airs on Sunday on WXIA-TV (NBC). Falcons Extra is the Falcons wrap up show where analyses and discussion around that day’s Falcons’ game takes place between show Host Sam Crenshaw and former Falcon Gerald Riggs.
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