NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) — If you love NFL football, chances are you love seeing players from the 757 on the football field.
Antoine Bethea (bu-THAY) of Newport News spent 14 seasons with the NFL. 10 On Your Side’s Regina Mobley captured a 757 moment while on the sidelines of a Sunday afternoon football game.
10 On Your Side take you back to Sept. 25, 2016. It’s the Seattle Seahawks versus the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. Cardinals No. 41 Bethea of Newport News stops to greet Seahawks No. 31 Kam Chancellor of Norfolk. Chancellor spent nine years in the NFL, and both Hampton Roads natives learned sports and the game of life at local community centers.
“I grew up in a youth center, and that was a safe haven for us,” Bethea said. “It was a place where I learned how to play basketball, football and baseball. I also learn how to swim, how to play pool and how to skate. So really, when you talk about my childhood, it stemmed from a youth center.”
Now retired from the NFL, Bethea, in cooperation with the city of Newport News, opened a new nonprofit community center in December that aims to create MVPs not just for sports, but also for life.
Bethea said growing up in Newport News affected him deeply.
“Growing up in Newport News and losing friends in high school at a young age to gun violence,” Bethea said. “Even now, I have friends who are losing their children to gun violence.
The SafeHaven Empowerment Center in the Denbigh section of Newport News will open its doors to the entire community this weekend for Super Saturday Family Day, It’s Bethea’s way of taking back the community. The free fun starts at 2 p.m. Saturday at SafeHaven Empowerment Center at 429 Thorncliff Dr. in Newport News.
“But again, this is a event that we’re opening up the doors to the community so people could come in and see what the Safe Haven Empowerment Center is all about — the different programs that we have, the different rooms that we have,” Bethea said. “So again, just come out, have a good time, we will have free food and free drinks all on a SafeHaven.”
Bethea said the young people who are enrolled in the program have changed for the positive.
“Man, it’s it’s a beautiful thing, right? So even though I’m not in the center daily, I get pictures, I get DMs or text messages just saying thank you,” Bethea said, “and just seeing the pictures of the kids in there playing basketball, in the computer lab, just having a good time.”
” It’s just a blessing to be able to help the people in our community,” Bethea said.
The Safehaven Empowerment Center program also includes mental health, physicals, dentistry and a Food Bank satellite facility. In April, the center will host a weeklong free technology spring break session.
Bethea encourages other 757 retired and active professional athletes to sponsor a child or a family in need.
“To all my former athletes, here’s one thing I know, just touching bases and talking with a number of them, they care about our community,” Bethea said. “Whether it’s Newport News, Hampton, Norfolk or whatever, they love the 757 and they love to see our young men and women strive to be the best that they can be. So again, if you are in or around the area, I would love for you guys to come in [on Super Saturday] and step foot into the SafeHaven, just give you support because it’s going to be a great place in for a great cause.”
