“This year we’re making our second annual trip,” says Pros For Africa co-founder Bill Horn, “and we’re very excited to have Vernon and Vontae be a part of this meaningful mission to better the lives of children in Africa who need and deserve our help.”
The upcoming 2011 mission trip also marks a new partnership between Pros For Africa and Starkey Hearing Foundation which has deliveredmore than 500,000 hearing aids throughout hundreds of missions to countries stretching from the U.S. to Asia, Latin America, South America and Africa. “We’re thrilled to be working with Starkey Hearing Foundation to change the lives of countless people throughout the world,” says Horn, “and we look forward to making a difference together.” Steven Sawalich, Starkey Hearing Foundation’s associate director says “there are more than 63 million hearing impaired children in the world who are living in isolation, but don’t have the resources to get these devices. We’re happy to have Vernon and Vontae join us with Pros For Africa to be a part of the solution – giving the gift of hearing around the world.”
The group will make several stops throughout Africa, including spending time with a deaf soccer team in Rwanda who will receive more than 200 hearing aids from Starkey Hearing Foundation. Both brothers say they’re looking forward to assisting these young soccer players in hearing for the first time. “It’s gonna be an amazing feeling for them and for us,” says Vernon. “I can’t wait to see how they react.”
Vernon and Vontae are also anticipating spending time with Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe, the quiet and unassuming revolutionary social activist and founder of St. Monica Girls Tailoring Centre which supports, educates and shelters abused and orphaned young women and their children in Gulu, Uganda. Sister Rosemary has fearlessly and successfully stood up against violent military forces on behalf of some 300 women and their children who live there. “They’ve gone through things we can’t even imagine because we have it so good here,” says Vernon. “But their courage blows both me and Vontae away.”
The Davis brothers grew up in Washington, D.C. in a family of seven siblings, Vernon being the oldest. Raised by their grandparents when their parents were unable to care for them, the brothers say they know exactly what it feels like to receive a hand of grace at a critical moment. “My grandmother’s my hero,” says Vernon. “She raised all of us and still found time to volunteer at her church and help people whenever she could. It’s people like my grandmother and sister Rosemary who I admire.”
Vernon and Vontae hold the distinction of belonging to a small club in the NFL of brothers drafted in the first round picks. Vernon just completed his fifth year with the 49ers. Drafted 6th overall in the first round in 2006, he went on to become a two-time team captain, Pro Bowler and the recipient of the Len Eshmont Award as the club’s most inspirational player. He is also credited with mentoring Vontae into the NFL.
Vontae has two years in the league having attended the University of Illinois where he received multiple honors and awards, including being selected by Pro Football Weekly’s for its annual All Rookie Team before being drafted in 2009 in the first all around as a cornerback for the Dolphins.