Adrian Colbert shares why he chose Silicon Valley FACES for My Cause My Cleats

San Francisco 49ers safety Adrian Colbert is still a game time decision for the match up against the Bears in Chicago. The rookie played nearly an entire game with a broken thumb two weeks ago and said if it was his choice he would have played against Seattle as well. Another decision he is very convicted about is his choice of Silicon Valley FACES for the My Cause My Cleats campaign.

Colbert grew up in Wichita Falls, Texas in a very challenging family situation with separated parents and a father who was involved in local gang activity and drugs. A tragic accident where 10 year Colbert was hit by a car while riding his bicycle sent him into a coma for over a week. This tragedy motivated Colbert’s father to turn his life around and move away from the “extra curricular activities” to Mineral Wells, Texas. It was tough on Colbert to be away from his mother. It wasn’t until Colbert and his second/adopted family the Clarke’s found each other that he started to feel comfortable in his new home town.

Colbert was a dominate athlete in high school yet was still discriminated against because of the color of his skin. Silicon Valley FACES is a non profit organization that has fostered safe learning environments without bias, bigotry, bullying, and violence for over 50 years. They do this by teaching empathy, respect, self-worth, inclusiveness, honesty, and integrity.

Silicon Valley FACES doesn’t only have youth programs. They have adult workshops including law enforcement training to assist in building relationships between officers and the communities where they serve. It is also an organization that the 49ers foundation has donated over $10,000 to.

Silicon Valley FACES deals with a lot of the issues that Eric Reid and Colin Kaepernick are trying to bring to light. Colbert has been one of the players who has consistenly stood next to Reid and Marquise Goodwin during the playing of the National Anthem with a hand on one of their shoulders.