by REBECCA GRACE | AFA Journal Staff Writer

During the early morning hours of April 3, 1956, 11-year-old Mike Gottfried’s life changed forever as he held a washcloth to the forehead of his collapsed father.

"He died that night," Gottfried, presently an ESPN football analyst, told the AFA Journal. "I remember that time very distinctly because I went to bed many nights crying myself to sleep wondering why this happened."

Now, almost 50 years later, Gottfried believes there was a purpose for his growing up in a fatherless home.

"I’m a firm believer in Jeremiah 29:11: ‘For I know the plans I have for you … plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future,’" he said.

"I think I was on a plan," Gottfried admitted. "I think what the Devil meant for bad, God meant for good…."

Gottfried willingly accepts the death of his father as the premature birth of Team Focus — a non-profit comprehensive community and outreach program founded by Gottfried and his wife Mickey in 2000. As described by promotional materials, Team Focus was created "to identify young men without a father who have leadership qualities and help develop them as leaders" as they "reach their destiny and become a positive influence in the world."

The program focuses on mentoring young men, ages 10 to 17, through summer camps, tutoring programs, and year-round activities. Team Focus began five years ago when Gottfried had the idea to hold a week-long camp in Mobile, Alabama, for fatherless boys. The initial camp was funded with $20,000 left over from the annual GMAC Bowl of which Gottfried is a part.

"GMAC comes in and watches the first camp and says, ‘We want to be a sponsor,’" Gottfried explained. "It’s almost like the money kept coming so we could open up other camps. "

Facets of the organization
Beginning in June, Team Focus will hold eight camps spanning six states and Washington, D. C., in which the young men, who are selected through an application process, participate in athletics, lectures and various activities. During each week, campers learn the importance of leadership, teamwork, academic achievement and a strong moral character.

"It’s a hands-on, one-on-one ministry that covers every area of a boy’s life," said Mike Reed. Reed is a pastor and Team Focus board member who volunteers as a counselor and spiritual advisor to the young men.

Through Team Focus, the young men are taught a variety of life principles such as how to tie a tie, take better notes, balance a checkbook, handle peer pressure, use good manners and respect females. They also have the opportunity to participate in after-school and Saturday tutoring and summer academic programs held through the Team Focus Wisdom Center located at the Mobile headquarters. However, plans are developing to place Wisdom Centers at various locations throughout the U. S.

Forerunners who care
Although Gottfried is the driving force behind Team Focus, his work and passion are shared by eight employees and numerous volunteers — many who have careers in athletics.

"The neat part is that so many of these people who are leaders are coaches, so they really have a heart and an ability to work with kids and bring them to their maximum fulfillment," Reed explained.

In addition, various well-known congressmen, businessmen, coaches, and athletes such as Bill Glass, former Cleveland Browns football player, and Drew Henson, Dallas Cowboys quarterback, are invited to speak at the camps each year. Not only do the speakers motivate the young men, several are able to relate to the boys because they know what it’s like to overcome the loss of a father.

"All of a sudden there’s this hope, and they get these dreams and say, ‘I can make it,’ " Gottfried said.

But Gottfried, a Christian since childhood, knows that true success is found in Christ, which is why each day of Team Focus camp begins with a Bible study and ends with a time of discipleship and worship.

"We can’t do a real good job with them if we don’t tell them, ‘Hey, it’s God who is going to do this. It is God who is going to answer your prayers,’ " Gottfried explained.

Although Gottfried was aware of God from a young age, his influential coaches and a love for sports became his focus as he dealt with his father’s death and searched for affirmation.

"My mom did everything she could possibly do, but the thing I learned back then is you have to have the affirmation of a father," Gottfried explained. "The coaches would act like a male affirmation for me so it was important to me to please them. Sports was a way I could still get an affirmation by a man that…[I was] doing a good job.

"I had a lot of good role models in coaches…. So I was blessed that the Lord did put men — good men — in my path that I could draw some kind of idea of what it’s supposed to be like," he continued.

A father with a focus
While athletics is a significant part of Team Focus, Gottfried’s passion is to father the fatherless and be a trustworthy role model who affirms them while living out what he teaches.

Gottfried knows he cannot teach the boys the importance of God’s plan while living according to the world.

"I can’t walk in the world’s thinking," he said. "I have to walk in what God has planned. I’ve got to walk the same thing I’m talking" as he seeks to be an effective father.

"I can never be the regular father of each boy, but I can be a substitute father, and that is what I want to do…. That’s what we [at Team Focus] want to do," Gottfried said, and are actually doing.

"I’ve never seen a man that would be so totally focused and committed 24 hours a day, seven days a week to the boys like a father would be to his son," Reed said of Gottfried.

Gottfried’s commitment to fatherhood stretches far beyond the week-long camps as he seeks to father nearly 500 young men, in addition to his own two daughters, on a daily basis. He not only knows each one by name, but every boy has his cell phone number and a toll-free number to the Team Focus office for use at any time. If a boy is struggling in school, Gottfried boards a plane to meet with the principal. If any of the boys receives an award, Gottfried is there for support.

Throughout the year, Team Focus also publishes monthly newsletters sent to all the boys. Gottfried and other Team Focus leaders organize group outings to basketball and footballs games across the country. Some of the young men go to college football practices and are provided with travel opportunities they never had or could afford prior to becoming a part of Team Focus.

As with most single-parent families, financial concerns are at the forefront of daily living. When it comes to money, Team Focus is funded completely through sponsorships and donations. The camps, Wisdom Center and year-round activities are provided at no cost to the participants or their families, indicating that monetary gain is not an underlying goal of Team Focus.

"[Instead] the rewards are to see the fulfillment in the boys’ lives when they see people that genuinely care about them that aren’t after anything from them," Reed said. "We [just] want to see leaders develop from these guys."

And what better way to cultivate leaders than to guide them down the path of righteousness sprinkled with affirmation and love.

"I just think it’s far reaching when you put your arm around a young guy," Gottfried said.

Just between us guys
Dominick Zambrano, 16, began participating in Team Focus three years ago, and since then has developed healthy relationships with his male mentors.

"[I’m] much more comfortable [talking to them] than a mom because a mother is a mother," Dominick said. "You just can’t tell her everything, and so there are some things you can just go to them and talk about — say, girls or something. They’re there just for ‘guy-talk.’"

Dominick’s mom understands.

"It’s just really been a godsend. I’ve been so blessed to become involved with this group…," Marian Zambrano said.

Marian, who participates in a Team Focus support group for mothers, is thankful that her only son now has male role models in which he can confide.

"I didn’t have any other family members who could step in and be a male role model for my son," Marian admitted. "It has not only benefited him from being around male mentors, but being around the other kids with whom he has so much in common has really helped him to grow and acquire some values…."

"[For example], you’ve always got to plant seeds," Dominick recalls Coach Mike [Gottfried] telling him.

"What that means is [when] people invest in you…they’re showing you the kindness of their hearts…. You know how good it feels to receive at first, but then you realize you can share that with other people [too]."

Plant a seed
The average cost of camp per boy is $500 a week. Team Focus encourages sponsorship of one of these young men and graciously accepts donations in any amount. Please mail donations to: Team Focus, 1300 Schillinger Road, Suite W-2, Mobile, AL 36695. Internet: www.teamfocusonline.org