Holt Brothers Foundation donates more than 1,000 helmets to local football programs

The Holt Brothers Foundation donated more than 1,000 foam, soft-shell helmets, dispersed Thursday among 11 football programs across central and eastern North Carolina.

Terrence and Torry Holt, the founders, said the giveaway helps support efforts to reduce concussions.

“When you think about high school budgets and how some of the high school budgets are probably cut, the challenges of trying to make sure the kids get the proper equipment they need. We feel like this is a space that we could help out,” Torry said.

Concerns surrounding concussions in football have become more widespread in recent years. The National Football League has required the soft-shell helmets in practice for athletes playing certain positions.

“Those [traditional] helmets collide. The impact from that is basically your brain moving around. Your brain moving around is not good. What these [soft-shell helmets] do is provide a protective barriers, so there’s a bracing of the collision. Hopefully, it does not allow the brain to shake around,” Terrence explained.

When it comes to competitive high school sports, football accounts for more than 60% of concussions, according to the Brain Injury Research Institute.

Terrence also noted that coaching practices have changed to reduce the amount of impact and number of collisions players endure during practices.

By providing these helmets, the Holt brothers say they can help protect more athletes, especially young ones.

“We’re hoping that these protective gear can reduce the amount of head injuries and guys can go into college with, hopefully, no concussions from practices at least,” Terrence said.
The coaches who received the gear called it “a blessing.”

“We definitely need them…I know these helmets are a lot of money,” said Santana Mcleod, the head coach for Fighting Cancer 7-on-7.

He said the soft-shell helmets can cost up to $100 each.

“Nowadays, who has $100 to drop on a soft-shell helmet? When kids play tackle also, you have to drop money on tackle, also. However we can keep from digging in parents’ pockets, we try to do that as much as possible,” Mcleod said.

The Holt Brothers Foundation is also hosting a fundraiser. Former NFL players and NFL Coaches will coach teams in the foundation’s annual Flag Football event on Saturday. The day will also include a bags competition, tailgating, with many community businesses represented. The event is free and open to the public.