Michael Huff takes to Capitol Hill

Oakland Raiders safety Michael Huff has joined several other NFL players at the United Way Empowerment Summit in Washington DC this week. The event is held at American University and its focus is to help promote reading, tutoring, and mentoring across the country.

The three-day event engages participants in identifying opportunities to improve the academic success of American students and create engagement opportunities for TEAM NFL members and their supporters to recruit readers, tutors and mentors.

"This event is hands down the best event I've done in my life," said Huff. "The young people here have so much energy and ideas on how they're going to change the world and I'm glad I can be a part of it."

TEAM NFL is a volunteer group of college-educated, civic-minded NFL players from teams across the league. The team members are committed to education opportunities and recruiting one million readers, tutors and mentors. As representatives of TEAM NFL, each player has a goal to recruit 3,000 volunteer pledges (99,000 total), accounting for almost 10 percent of the United Way recruitment goal. To learn more about TEAM NFL visit: www.unitedway.org/team-nfl.

Other NFL players in attendance at the summit include:

Talent/Guest: TEAM NFL Members

- Nnamdi Asomugha, Philadelphia Eagles

- Calais Campell, Arizona Cardinals

- Vonta Leach, Baltimore Ravens

- Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers

- Vincent Rey, Cincinnati Bengals

- Joshua Cribbs, Cleveland Browns

- Brandon Carr, Dallas Cowboys

- Virgil Green, Denver Broncos

- Cliff Avril, Detroit Lions

- Greg Jennings, Green Bay Packers

- Glover Quin, Houston Texans

- Antoine Bethea, Indianapolis Colts

- Eben Britton, Jacksonville Jaguars

- Chris Canty, New York Giants

- D'Brickashaw Ferguson, New York Jets

- Riley Cooper, Philadelphia Eagles

- Charlie Batch, Pittsburgh Steelers

- Navorro Bowman, San Francisco 49ers

The Youth Empowerment Summit culminates on June 21 with the fifth annual Day of Action during which hundreds of United Ways around the United States will engage in service projects to advance education, income and health initiatives. In Washington, D.C., TEAM NFL will take to Capitol Hill and speak with members of Congress about education issues.

"United Way TEAM NFL volunteers play an important role in raising awareness and providing inspiration to youth around America. TEAM NFL recruitment efforts will advance the United Way call to activate one million readers, tutors and mentors and improve the academic success of our nation's youth," said NFL Partnership Director Tracey Holmes.

In 2011, 258 United Ways representing all fifty states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico participated in Day of Action volunteer activities. Day of Action took place at 1,235 project sites which benefited nearly 250,000 Americans.

About United Way United Way is a worldwide network in 41 countries and territories, including more than 1,200 local organizations in the U.S. It advances the common good, creating opportunities for a better life for all by focusing on the three key building blocks of education, income and health. United Way recruits people and organizations who bring the passion, expertise and resources needed to get things done. LIVE UNITED® is a call to action for everyone to become a part of the change. For more information about United Way, please visit: www.UnitedWay.org.