Cooley Scholarship Fund

Photo Ned Dishman

Chris kicked off the eight school Education Fund tour at Fairmont Heights High School in Capitol Heights yesterday by sharing with the students that even though the NFL was always his dream, it wasn't always a reality.

"I'm here to talk about education and... how it's helped me get where I am," Cooley said. "This is my opportunity to help others. This is truly what matters to me.

I was always a good student. When I was younger, my parents got divorced. My mom went back to college; she became a teacher. She's been my biggest role model. I wanted to be a teacher. I thought it was the most awesome thing in the world."

This is the message we are trying to share with the students, that education is the most important thing in their young lives. And to show that, Chris is giving $5,000 to each school's academic program, and a senior from each will receive a $25,000 scholarship from the fund. The schools chosen to benefit from the Chris Cooley Education Fund were selected based on financial need, diversity, location, graduation rates and test scores.

"I really want to be involved in the community, and this scholarship program was part of the plan. I'm excited about it. I think it's going to be very cool."

Like we mentioned before, if you would like to help us out, we are going to be having an art show in May and will be auctioning off Chris's art and that of local artists and students. If you would just like to donate to the cause, please make checks payable to "DC College Success Foundation" and in the memo write "Chris Cooley Scholarship Fund." And you will need to hang onto your checks for now as we are awaiting an address to send them.

Also, while at Fairmont Heights, I gave my camera to a couple of students in attendance and asked them to take it around to see what others thought of the assembly. Some gave a great response while others used the air time for different purposes. Either way, we told them to check the blog cause they would be on...so here you go. Enjoy.


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The Final Products

When it comes to painting I'm really good at starting them but not at finishing.  I probably have 25 half painted canvasses in my closet and at some time in all of them I got pissed off and quit.  I know that, by no means, I'm any kind of great artist, but I had a blast doing this and I'm way proud of myself for not quitting the projects.
Also, sometime in May I am doing a charity art show.  I am going to try and raise enough money to give $25,000 scholarships to eight local students who would have a hard time paying for it any other way.  The art show will consist of over 20 of my own pieces of art ranging from paintings to drawings and even pottery.  If any other artists are interested in donating a piece of art to be displayed and sold in the show please contact the website. (cooleyfans@gmail.com)

In preparation for the scholarship program I will be speaking at eight local schools this week.  I want to encourage students to value education, as it has greatly benefited me in my life. For every school I visit, I will be donating $5,000 dollars to be used for education.  It should be an interesting week because I'm a little nervous to be standing up at a bunch of high school assemblies. I am however, very excited to be able to meet so many young people in our community. When all is said and done, the Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation and myself will be selecting the eight students who will receive, "The Cooley Scholarship." I am very excited for this project and I think it will be a huge success.

If anyone would like to make a donation, they can do so by sending a check or artwork to:

Redskins co/Chris Cooley
21300 Redskin Park Drive
Ashburn, VA 20147

What am I really like?

What is Chris Cooley like? Typical question posed to many teammates and friends, but I feel like a question that is so hard to answer. What someone is like, or who someone really is can be so hard to define. I heard the question today in the locker room, but didn't think much of it until tonight.

.....30 minutes later..... So I've decided I can't find the words to encompass my entire personality, but I think I can describe something that influences an enormous part of my life, inattention. I am the most inattentive person I know. Procrastination is an ongoing battle, and absentminded would fit right in the mix of Chris Cooley personality traits. Combining the three of these things and I'm running a strong case for ADD.

An average day consists of me spending 10 to 20 minutes looking for keys (and yes I have key holders the first step in the door). In that day I also spend at least another 20 minutes looking for some random item (wallet, can opener, cork screw, and a popular search is the other shoe). The funny thing is, the item is always something that should be somewhere. Common statements in my life are "It couldn't have just grown legs", or "It'll turn up sooner or later."

Saying I'm easily distracted would be a hell of an understatement. The team meeting room at Redskins Park has become my own personal art studio. If I'm going to get "coached up" on any kind of plays, it probably better get done in the first 30 minutes. Now don't misinterpret this as me not caring, or a lack of respect. More importantly don't ever think I don't know exactly what is going on in a game plan or in an offense. I simply have a tiny attention span, and it is impossible for me to sit and listen to someone talk for an extended period of time.

I've spent countless hours making all kinds of sketches. I've sported a variety of sharpie tattoos to practice. 80's rocker shorts were a big hit in the locker room. My all time favorite time consumer has to be completely coloring a piece of paper with a ball point pen.(A guaranteed 8 hours worth of work).

I feel like a 17 year old kid living the biggest dream of my life. I know I act like a 17 year old kid most of the time, I get that from my dad. I am completely spontaneous. Not a day goes by when I complete half the plans that I began that day with and I love it. My mind races from idea to idea, but this allows me to be interested in so many things. I can very easily decide I'm going to spend the week relaxing at home and end up on a flight to Vegas the next day.

Because of this major personality trait (inattention), I have become the person that I am. The person people know and expect. In different descriptions about myself, I've heard that I'm crazy or have a free spirit. I don't make an effort to be different or original, I just do things that make me happy.

Please direct Q and A to the Draft Day post. Thanks