2019
Humanitarian Award
Brad W. Hawkins
Brad W. Hawkins, Sr. was born and raised in Camden, New Jersey. He was raised with 8 siblings from Vivian and James Hawkins. Brad graduated from Camden High School in 1985. After graduation, he attended Cheney State University and West Chester University of Pennsylvania where he studied sociology. While attending college, he wrestled and played football. In 1988, Brad had the opportunity to fill the wide receiver position as a coach for Cheney University after not making the rooster for the Philadelphia Eagles. In 1990, Brad began working for the New Jersey Department of Corrections where he remained for 25 years until retirement.
Brad’s passion for football started as a young child while playing for Whitman Park Youth Football in Camden, NJ. In 2000, he had the opportunity to run the Whitman Park Youth Football program under the direction of Chris Collins where his passion for football and children elevated. In 2007, Brad advanced Whitman Park Youth Football by moving the program out of the city’s football league to the Tri-County Football Conference with the assistance of James Wynn. During it’s time in the Tri-County Football Conference, Whitman Park Youth Football won 3 Championships, 5 Turkey Bowl Classics, 8 Backpack Kick-Off Classics, 1 Toys for Tots Classic, and 1 South Jersey Little League Championship. Brad has also helped 23 former Whitman Park football players get into a Division 1 colleges and 19 other former players to attend various colleges and universities throughout the country. One of Brad’s biggest dreams was to see any of his prior football players play in the NFL. To date, two former players have made that dream a reality.
Brad is happily married to Dessory Black-Hawkins. With this union, they are a blended family that consists of 8 children and 8 grandchildren. Brad enjoys coaching football and mentoring the kids in the city of Camden and displaying to the world that something good can come out of Camden.
Brad’s passion for football started as a young child while playing for Whitman Park Youth Football in Camden, NJ. In 2000, he had the opportunity to run the Whitman Park Youth Football program under the direction of Chris Collins where his passion for football and children elevated. In 2007, Brad advanced Whitman Park Youth Football by moving the program out of the city’s football league to the Tri-County Football Conference with the assistance of James Wynn. During it’s time in the Tri-County Football Conference, Whitman Park Youth Football won 3 Championships, 5 Turkey Bowl Classics, 8 Backpack Kick-Off Classics, 1 Toys for Tots Classic, and 1 South Jersey Little League Championship. Brad has also helped 23 former Whitman Park football players get into a Division 1 colleges and 19 other former players to attend various colleges and universities throughout the country. One of Brad’s biggest dreams was to see any of his prior football players play in the NFL. To date, two former players have made that dream a reality.
Brad is happily married to Dessory Black-Hawkins. With this union, they are a blended family that consists of 8 children and 8 grandchildren. Brad enjoys coaching football and mentoring the kids in the city of Camden and displaying to the world that something good can come out of Camden.