Super Bowl champion and Pro Bowl defensive lineman Cliff Avril returns home to Clay County this week to present the inaugural round of scholarships through his foundation, the Cliff Avril Family Foundation. The two scholarships will be awarded to graduating seniors from a Clay County high school.
Established earlier this year, the Cliff Avril Family Foundation Trade School Bound Scholarship was created in honor of Cliff’s late father Samuel who migrated from Haiti in the 1980’s. Once settling in Florida, Samuel picked up welding which enabled him to provide for his family. The scholarship, for $2,500 will be awarded to one Clay County senior attending trade school this fall.
Cliff lost his father, suddenly, on May 22, 2015, due to a heart attack. Since his passing, the Seahawks Legend has been motivated to do something in his honor.
The second scholarship – the Cliff Avril Family Foundation College Bound Scholarship will be awarded to a graduating senior enrolling in a college or university. Submissions were accepted from all high schools in Clay County during April and reviewed by members of the Cliff Avril Family Foundation. Recipients were selected based on established criteria and will be presented with their scholarship in a special ceremony on Thursday, May 23 at their respective schools.
Neither winner is aware of this honor. The Trade School Scholarship will be presented at Keystone Heights High School at 11:00 AM and the College Bound Scholarship will be presented at Fleming Island High School at 12:30 PM. Cliff will be present to award each student.
The Super Bowl Champion is not new to giving back. Since 2013, Cliff has returned to Green Cove Springs each summer to hold a youth football camp and family fun day. Both events are free and open to the community.
This year’s Charity Weekend runs June 22-23. The youth football camp is open to youth 12-18 and will take place at the Clay County Fairgrounds from 8 am-2 pm. Each attendee will receive a camp shirt, lunch, one-on-one instruction and a photo and autograph with Cliff and other NFL players.
The Family Fun Day is open to the entire community and will take place at Paul C. Armstrong Park on Sunday, June 23 from 1 pm-5 pm. The day will include food, bounce houses, music, a kickball tournament and more. People can register for either event online at www.cliffavrilfamilyfoundation.org. Sponsorships are still available.