DALLAS - Dallas Cowboys Linebacker Keith Brooking hosted a party for Buckner foster families on Dec. 10 at the Buckner Children’s Home campus. The children are participants in the Keith Brooking Foundation’s Defining Opportunity Program, which funds extracurricular activities for foster children. They each received Christmas gifts and their families received gift cards courtesy of Albertsons for their holiday meal.

Following the party, Brooking had pizza party with nine teenage foster boys, “Brooking’s Buddies,” who reside on the Buckner campus. Brooking toured each of the boys room, played games, talked football and spoke to the boys about getting involved in sports, music or arts related activities and encouraged them in their pursuits. He shared with them how hard work, tenacity and setting goals will lead to success in life.

“I was so excited about meeting the foster children from Buckner that are part of our program,” said Brooking. “I had the chance to get to know each child, encourage them to pursue their dreams and plan to give them the continued funding and support they need to do just that.”

KBCF is sponsoring several youth at Buckner to help give them life-changing opportunities, including two boys who are participating in a winter basketball league at the YMCA. Two additional boys will attend baseball camp to prepare for spring baseball and several children are enrolled in gymnastics lessons. Other activities being provided for the children include karate and therapeutic riding lessons.

Brooking founded The Keith Brooking Children’s Foundation in 2003. He was inspired by his mother, who was a foster parent while he was growing up, to create the foundation to serve the needs of foster children. Learn more about the Foundation at www.kbcf.org.