Former UNI wide receiver Dedric Ward returned to his home town of Cedar Rapids for a fundraising event this week. Ward played in a charity golf outing to raise money for the ESCO Group, a non-profit organization that assists under-priviledge youth in Cedar Rapids.
Ward says it’s a tremendous opportunity to try and keep the ball rolling in the community to provide opportunities for the kids. The group runs several sports leagues and Ward, along with fellow UNI alum Kurt Warner and golfer Zach Johnson all played sports in the Esco league while growing up in the area.
Ward says it’s a tight community that has provided great support for those who go on. He says they also preach academics. Ward is entering his first seasons as an assistant coach for the Arizona Cardinals.