Redskins Player’s Foundation Donates to Send Young Dancer to The Ailey School 

The Chris Samuels Foundation will continue to Sponsor Washington, D.C. born Kayla Harley as she travels to New York City to attend The Ailey School, the official school of the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater.  Harley was granted a full scholarship, however, there were still additional expenses to take care of, including supplies, room and board, etc.  Thankfully, The Chris Samuels Foundation stepped in to help offset these costs.  Last year, the Chris Samuels Foundation sponsored Harley in the amount of $1200 to attend the summer program at the Kirov Academy of Ballet in NW Washington D.C. The Kirov Academy is a prominent and respectable school for young developing ballet dancers and Harley was one of only two African-Americans to be accepted into this program. 

Harley is currently 16 years old and has dedicated nearly 10 years to dancing.  She has performed at the Kennedy Center, the Lincoln Theatre, Debbie Allen Company, and Dance Theatre of Harlem. The young dancer currently attends Suitland High School for the performing arts and upholds a grade point average of 3.60 with over 100 hours of community service hours and teaches beginner dance classes as well.

Chris Samuels, Offensive Left Tackle for the Washington Redskins and Head of the Chris Samuels Foundation, has committed his ongoing support to Harley on an as-needed basis.  He also keeps in touch with some college-bound graduates of local, inner-city Ballou and Anacostia High Schools.  These graduates participated in the Foundation’s “My Brother’s Keeper” program run at the respective high schools.  Graduates periodically call Samuels, who encourages them and continues to track their progress as they move on to the next phase of their lives.  Two weeks ago, Samuels invited the Harley family to his home in Newburg, MD for a pool party/cookout.  Attached are pictures, courtesy of Robert Shanklin, commemorating this event (Harley is wearing a black bathing suit and her brother, Kameron is in green swimming trunks).

About the Chris Samuels Foundation

The Chris Samuels Foundation is an organization dedicated to community stabilization through home ownership education, economic development and youth initiatives.  Samuels has received support from Democratic presidential forerunners Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton for his efforts and has recently awarded a new home to a family who withstood the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.  Future efforts for the foundation include home ownership programs in Samuels’ home state of Alabama and additional youth initiatives in Washington DC such as the Chris Samuels Foundation Job Training & Internship Program and a Football Camp.  For more information, please visit www.crsdevelopment.com.

About Chris Samuels

Chris Samuels brings the same excellence and discipline that led him to be selected as an All-Star and to participate in the NFL Pro Bowl four times to the Chris Samuels Foundation.
Chris was selected in the first round of the National Football League’s Draft of 2000, the third pick of the Washington Redskins, where he is currently playing in his seventh year. He has been selected to the NFL Pro Bowl four times and received the Ed Block Courage Award (awarded to the individual who has been through the most adversity during the playing season) and Outstanding Redskin Offensive Player of the Year (awarded by the Pigskin Club).Chris attended the University of Alabama and has received many awards during his academic and professional career, including The Outland Trophy (Best Offensive Lineman in College Football); Selected 1st Team All Southeastern Conference; and All American College Team Captain.

About the Ailey School

The mission of the Ailey School is to make dance accessible to young people and adults through dance training and innovative community outreach and arts-in-education programs.  For more information, please visit www.theaileyschool.edu.

 Contact:  Robert Shanklin 301-529-4483 rfshanklin@mac.com

or Lauren Smith 202-834-3412 laurenjeannine@gmail.com