Story Published:
Aug 7, 2007 at 2:16 PM PDT
By
Shelley Kurtz
You've probably heard the names, Dan Fouts, Ahmad Rashad and Chris Miller. They're all Ducks who've made it to the big time, in football. Well, we think you'll be hearing the name "Joe" in the future. He's a young man who wants to be a football player, when he grows up.
But first he wants to find his "Forever Family". Joe is this month's Heart Gallery child.
We first met up with Joe at KidSports, the local organization which provides boys and girls sports opportunities in Eugene and Springfield. He was given some coaching on his football skills from Dave Clark, the football coordinator.
Clark threw a few passes with Joe, ran a few drills and had this assessment: "Joe's got a lot of potential."
Joe has played flag football and was the quarterback of his team. He learned how to throw the ball, by watching the Ducks on TV.
"I would watch them and I would go to my game and I would see how they would line up their fingers with the cords and then throw it. That's how I got good at throwing the ball."
Joe is going to start middle school, next month. He's lived with his current foster family for the last year and a half. They have a dog and a cat but he has his own pet, a bunny named "Stuart!" (He was reading "Stuart Little" at the time.)
He explains why he chose Stuart:"This bunny was very calm when I got him . Hold him right here, he wouldn't kick or anything, it's like "Whoa....are you even a bunny?"
Joe's case worker, Gina Brown, says the 12 year old is an easy-going guy, who could fit in with most any family. "I think something that's going to be important for Joe is a parent who can advocate for him in the school system and make sure his needs are met that way."
Joe's football throwing skills caught the attention of KidSports officials, who wanted to draft him, on the spot, but instead they gave him a voucher, so he can play tackle football in the Kidsports program, in the fall.....a gift that made Joe beam. He also was given a football, signed by KidSports Executive Director Chris Miller (who quarterbacked for the Atlanta Falcons, the St. Louis Rams and the Oregon Ducks).
To learn more about adopting Joe, call (541) 686-7555 and ask for the adoption worker of the day.
The Heart Gallery can be seen this month at The Gateway Mall in Springfield, the Lane County Public Service Building, the Bethesda Lutheran Church and the Eugene Airport. There is also a special display at the Valley River Center in Eugene, with pictures of two boys who are up for adoption, and their special sports interests.
To learn more about KidSports, call (541) 683-2374.
For more information, call 541-686-7555 (Dept. of Human Services).
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