LITT MAGAZINE

The Marion Barber II family has been richly blessed with a long public history of brilliant athletic performances on both the amateur and professional levels. The University of Minnesota recruited Marion Barber II in the mid 80's, from Detroit's Chadsey high school and reaped the benefits of his superior athletic prowess and leadership before he was drafted by the New York Jets. The University of Minnesota realized further dividends when two of his three athletically gifted sons contributed talent to the 21st century version of the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. Marion III and Dominique' played on the same team for a moment before Marion III went on to compete professionally as a featured running back of the NFL's high profile Dallas Cowboys football team. Dominique Barber blazed his own path to the NFL a few years later as a member of the Houston Texans. Despite the distraction of notoriety, public expectation and demand, the Barber family have remained remarkably grounded and humble. Evidence of this humility can be witnessed in the annual Barber Foundation football camp held in north Minneapolis in June for the last five years. The event takes place on the football field of North High school and brings together high profile professional athletes with challenged and less privileged young men from the Minneapolis and surrounding area.

Despite the availability of more glamorous facilities and playing fields the Barbers have made the commitment to serve the least privileged, in the least glamorous facility-with one purpose; to serve under privileged young men. There are more state of the art facilities that would welcome the Barber brothers and the host of athletes that would accompany their program. The North Minneapolis location is logistically and symbolically integral to the Barber Foundation philosophy of giving to those who need most. This years proceeds go to programs that are aimed at supporting the tornado victims of that same North Minneapolis community-not a portion, or a percentage of proceeds-100% of the proceeds go to relief programs for the community.

This years camp was broken into two separate days so that quality time could be devoted to younger and "special" participants on one day followed by more intense drill and instruction devoted to older more competitive athletes on day 2. Day I count was 160 young people-all of whom had fun and were challenged to their physical capacity. The entire camp was a success and the decision to keep the annual camp in North Minneapolis bear witness to the commitment and dedication by one family's foundation to honor and serve the "underserved"- It should be noted with small underscore that a few weeks ago Marion Barber III donated what could conceivably be his last contractual paycheck from the Dallas Cowboys ($500,000, or so) for the purchase of a network of computers for Dallas' least served school districts-i.e.-not just Black but the poorest children of all colors-from the entire Dallas school system. All done so without fanfare, or self congratulatory headline grabbing. For this reason and many other contributions, on so many levels, made by the entire Barber II family that will go unmentioned Litt magazine names the family Barber, and the Barber Foundation, the title; Local Legend.

Peace!

RE