PALESTINE —
Former Palestine Wildcat great and current NFL All-Pro Adrian Peterson will return to Palestine for the sixth annual Adrian Peterson Day on Saturday, June 9.
This year, festivities will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Davey Dogwood Park’s pavilion area, located in the park off North Link Street just off North Loop 256 in Palestine. Peterson will be given a few opening remarks to kick off the event, which will be Hawaiian themed.
“It’s just going to be a fun day where everybody can come out, have fun and get a picture or autograph with Adrian,” said Bernadine Martin, who is helping coordinate the event with Carol Peques. “He loves his fans.”
After his graduation from Palestine High School in 2003, Peterson starred at the University of Oklahoma before being drafted in the first round of the 2007 NFL draft by the Vikings.
Live music, games and bounce houses for the kids are planned. Secular and church groups are planning to perform throughout the day.
“People will need to bring their blankets, tables and chairs, whatever they need to be comfortable,” Martin said.
Families can bring their own picnic or food but food vendors also will be selling items as well.
Peterson is known for his benevolence to his hometown, across the nation and even in other countries.
“We are very proud of him and it blesses us to know that he gives back to others,” Martin said.
In November, Peterson and his All Day Foundation presented 300 food boxes to families in need to Palestine residents, something his non-profit organization has done several times over the past few years.
“This is my roots, where I came from,” Peterson said while in Palestine for the food distribution in November. “That’s my main purpose, just to give back and help communities.”
Peterson established the All Day Foundation in 2008 to raise awareness and funds for programs that inspire hope and build a better future for at-risk-children. The foundation promotes the well-being of at-risk kids by partnering with nonprofits and developing new programs in these primary areas: sportsmanship and leadership; youth education and enrichment; and fighting hunger, providing food to children and families in need. In 2010, he went on a mission trip to Uganda and continues to support missions in Africa.
“Before I grew up, all the people here in Palestine supported me along the way, from pee-wee league on up,” Peterson said during his visit in November. “It feels good to come back and see the smiles I’ve put on people’s faces. To hear the people I grew up with tell me how proud they are of me and how I make them proud to be from Palestine.”
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Sports Editor Justin Rains contributed to this report.
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For a map to Davey Dogwood Park in Palestine, visit http://www.visitpalestine.com/attractions.htm
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All Day Foundation
http://www.alldayfoundation.org/
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Sixth annual Adrian Peterson Day slated June 9
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