In his third season, Marco Rivera is a first-year starter for the Green Bay Packers
Marco Rivera, an offensive guard for the Green Bay Packers, recently traveled to Puerto Rico with a twofold agenda.
"It was an honor for me to go to the place where my parents were born and raised," said Rivera. While taking the time to visit his roots and visit his grandmother who still lives there, Rivera also took time to give back to the people of Puerto Rico.
While in Puerto Rico, Rivera visited San Jorge Children's Hospital near San Juan. He spent the day talking to children of all ages with different types of ailments. He signed autographs, took pictures, and spent some quality time with children talking about an array of topics.
The following day, Rivera held a football camp for approximately 200 children between the ages of 10 and 16. Along with the children that attended the camp, adults came to see and hear advice from an NFL player.
"I was probably one of the first professional football players to ever hold a camp for these kids," said Rivera. "The expressions on their faces were amazing. It was a very proud moment for me."
Rivera spent the day breaking down the positions and techniques of football. He told of his childhood experiences of growing up in Brooklyn, New York, and playing football at Penn State and in the NFL. "I was proud to talk to them, about what it took for me to get to the NFL," Rivera said.
At the end of camp he spent time posing for photos with the children and adults and signing autographs.
Rivera left them with two important pieces of advise. "It's all about education and commitment," he said.
