Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle and Millard West graduate Harrison Phillips hosted more than 200 children at his seventh annual Playmakers Camp for kids with special needs at Millard West on Saturday.
At this year’s camp, Phillips had a petting zoo, a bounce house and football games among other activities. It was also his largest camp, with more than 200 campers and more than 100 volunteers, along with friends and family members of the campers.
With Omaha being Phillips’ hometown, he said that it means a lot to put on this camp every year and give back to his community.
“This is my high school, and this is where I’m starting a family,” Phillips told Hurrdat Sports. “I’m building a home here with my wife, who’s a Millard West grad. We just had a child who’s going to grow up a Nebraskan, and this one means the most.”
Nebraska football and volleyball players were among the volunteers at this year’s camp. Phillips said that it was awesome getting to witness these student-athletes participate in this event.
“It gives me faith in humanity,” Phillips said. “I feel like when I was younger, I was kind of a little rascal, ragamuffin, getting into trouble. These guys are really responsible, and I’m very confident that they’re going to succeed at whatever thing that they decide to pursue in their life.”
Nebraska volleyball player Skyler Pierce was one of the volunteers this year, her second time helping at the camp. The redshirt freshman outside hitter said she loves participating.
“It’s so special,” Pierce said. “Just because you never really understand the impact that you’re making on people when you come to these events, or even the other sporting events. You just can see their face light up, and it’s just such a wholesome feeling.”
Pierce said that the Nebraska volleyball team enjoys giving back to the community that is always there for them.
“Nebraska does so much for our team,” Pierce said. “The fan base, everything, they love our team so much. So the fact that we get to come back and hang out with these kids that just love the sport so much, and love hanging out with us, it’s a really cool experience.”
Throughout his life, Phillips has always had big dreams for himself. He said that his younger self would be very happy with all that he’s done with the camp thus far.
“He’d be very proud of himself,” Phillips said. “I always spoke really big goals and set them really far above. I was kind of laughed at a little bit, being a little freshman saying, ‘I’m going to play in the NFL and get full ride scholarships,’ and stuff, but I worked my ass off to make that happen. So I’d be really proud, and I think the most import thing is bringing others along the way.”
Phillips got the idea to start this organization at a pretty young age. One day in middle school, his normal lunch table was full, so he sat with the special education department to eat. Those interactions birthed the idea that eventually became his Playmakers organization and camp.
“I was just going there trying to make new friends,” Phillips said. “And I did. Some of those same classmates are at this camp right now in group nine, that I met that day. Some of them went with me to prom. So to have those kids whose parents said, ‘My kid was never, ever going to go to prom, now he’s going with the prom king,’ it just meant a lot.
“This is a population that’s overlooked a lot, and I know every time I surround myself with people with difference, my cup’s always overflowing.”
The Omaha native said that there are a lot of great things that come along with hosting this camp, including seeing the joy that it brings others and making a difference in the kids’ lives.
“When I just look out and all you see is just smiling faces, dancing kids, that’s really rewarding,” Phillips said. “And then secondly, I’ll have a mom or dad or somebody come up to me and they will say, ‘This is the highlight of my kid’s year.’ Now it puts some pressure on me to set the bar high, but they really mean that.”
As the years have gone on, the camp has continued to grow each and every year. Phillips said that seeing the kids grow and develop has been one of the best things that has happened throughout the course of the camp’s existence.
“Seeing an 8-year-old, 10-year-old come in super shy, standing by mom the whole time, and then now, as a 17-year-old they’re leading the group, they’re dancing, they’re bringing friends along with them,” Phillips said. “And to see them just gain that confidence.”
With all the success that the camp has had thus far, Phillips said that he wants to keep it going as long as possible.
“I hope that my son, if he chooses to pursue sports, that one day he’ll take over this camp for me, years down the road,” Phillips said.
For now, Phillips will continue to host the Playmakers Camp and give back to his local community that means so much to him. He’s excited to keep up this tradition and make a difference in kids’ lives.
