AURORA — There’s a reason Derrick Martin is a sucker for underprivileged children, the kids who aren’t provided with much hope or encouragement, come from single-parent homes and always seem to be running uphill against poverty and the allure of gangs.
“It’s where I came from,” the former Thomas Jefferson High School football star said.
Martin may have left that life about a decade ago, but not entirely and he certainly hasn’t forgotten about it. Now 27, he was a member of the past two Super Bowl champions — the Green Bay Packers and the New York Giants. A father of three who married his TJ sweetheart, Martin may be a free agent in pro ball, but he knows where his heart is.
“I just want to give back, give back to the community,” the defensive back and special-teams captain said.
This weekend, he’ll host a fundraiser at Celebrity Lanes in Southeast Aurora through his Derrick Martin Foundation, as well as a football camp at TJ for what he hopes will be numerous emerging Derrick Martins.
“The thing about Derrick that’s most important,” Denver Prep League district athletic director Karen Higel said, “is he’s a kid who loved his school experience and he does everything he can to go back and share that experience with other kids.”
The affable Martin gets more smiles than frowns, more questions about the future than about what happened in the past.
“The kids are very appreciative,” he said. “They write me thank-you letters telling me that I’m hitting home with them.”
The St. Louis native came to Colorado as a youth. While leading TJ to the Class 5A state semifinals in 2002 as a savvy, speedy quarterback and defensive back, he was outspoken against suburban power and resources, and lamented inner-city woes of lower participation, smaller coaching staffs and regular beatdowns handed out by programs outside Denver limits. He also grew weary of significant Denver talent (TJ had 25 Division I football signees during a three-year stretch in the 1990s) across the board in athletics washing out after leaving home.
So, Martin used it as fuel after signing with Wyoming. While isolated in remote Laramie as a Cowboy, he was good — and confident enough to declare for the NFL draft after his junior season.
Selected in the sixth round by Baltimore, he got involved as a player within his community, along with Ravens quarterback Kyle Boller. It was a taste he still has. After three years, he moved on to Green Bay, then the Giants last season.
This will be the fourth year for his foundation operating in Denver. Having recently purchased a home in southeast Aurora, Martin continues his program with an eye toward perhaps signing with the Broncos someday.
“I’d like to play here,” Martin said. “We’ll see how it goes.”
The Giants, New England, San Diego and Tampa Bay each have shown varying levels of interest, he said, but he might have to wait until training camp to get an offer.
“They all told me: ‘We know what you can do. We’ll evaluate our talent and get back to you in early July or before training camp.’ “
In the meantime, he’ll continue his program that plans four events per year and hopes to expand it locally, possibly in Park Hill.
At 5 p.m. today there will be celebrity bowling, a fashion show and a silent auction. On Saturday at TJ, his SportsFest will include football and cheerleading camps. Longer term, he’d like to bring in his Thanksgiving turkey giveaway, a back-to-school event to provide educational supplies and also do something around Christmas.
“He’s not selective,” said Higel, who has seen Martin at TJ attending any number of athletic events.
Retired TJ football coach Dan Turnbull isn’t surprised.
“It’s just amazing to see him doing this,” Turnbull said. “It’s just so nice in this day and age to see him putting his family first and being a really responsible adult. He’s a role model.”
Martin would rather see results than revel in praise.
“I definitely tell the kids to set goals and be determined to reach their goals,” he said. “I try to teach them confidence is the key.”
Neil H. Devlin: 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com
