On Tuesday evening, the Miami Dolphins and 5000 Role Models of Excellence Foundation gathered together on the club level of Hard Rock Stadium to host their 26th Wilson Scholars Academic Signing Ceremony, where 47 Wilson Scholars signed scholarships to the colleges and universities of their choosing.

“I am full with pride, because I see the future looking good, real good. I think the next black president is in this audience tonight as one of the role models.” said radio personality Tom Joyner, who attended as a guest speaker for the proceedings. “In ’99 it didn’t mean as much as it did now, because I didn’t realize this program was doing all this in ’99. In ’98 I started my foundation to help students stay in school in historically black colleges and universities. What they’re doing is the next level.”

Next level is a great way of putting it, as since the event was founded in 1993 by Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (D-FL 24), the program has awarded millions of dollars worth in scholarships for over 25,000 scholars, and has drawn in the support of several big name celebrities and athletes, such as Miami Heat players and alumni Udonis Haslem, Alonzo Mourning, Shaquille O’Neal, and former Dolphins Keith Jackson and Oronde Gadsden.

With all of the changes that the 5000 Role Models of Excellent Project have made to the lives of young black students over the past 26 years, it only seemed fitting that the Miami Dolphins and their FOOTBALL UNITES initiative, whose goal is to level the playing field, would get involved in a big way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFVq09rOclE

“It’s the commitment from our owner Stephen Ross and Tom Garfinkel,” said Miami Dolphins Senior Vice President of Communications & Community Affairs Jason Jenkins. “When he talked about being intentional about working with organizations that make a true impact in the community, the 5000 Role Models was one of our first choices, just because of the impact that we see not only in the school system, but also out in the community as well.”

The Dolphins have opened their doors to these young students being honored; they go to games, practices, and get to enjoy events hosted by the team all throughout the year. There is never a moment where Miami is not trying to give opportunities to groups that normally would not have them, which falls hand in hand with the vision that Congresswoman Frederica Wilson had when she started this program back in 1993.

As she spoke on the podium, she told her heartfelt tale of how she was inspired to start the program in the first place, and just by hearing her talk, one can easily tell that none of what she’s done is merely a shallow political stunt; it comes straight from the heart.

“I went to a high school, a senior high school, and they were giving awards; it was an awards assembly, and everyone was in black tie.” Wilson said. “And all the children who crossed the stage that received an award were either white, Hispanic, or girls. There was not one black boy who received an award. So I said to the principal, ‘there was nothing that a black boy could have earned?’ And he said, ‘well, we have a committee, and we put the committee together, they decide who will receive the awards. And so it broke my heart, and I decided right then that I would start a foundation and I would never sit in a school auditorium and watch all the children receive awards except little black boys.”

Regardless of where you stand on the political spectrum, there is no denying that the impact these events are having on the community are making a huge change in the lives of those they’re tailored to. In the end, that’s where the focus should be, and that’s what the Dolphins are aiming to do, with this and every event they do throughout the year.