Colts' Freeney Makes Child's Dream Come True

INDIANAPOLIS -- An Indianapolis Colts player headed back to class Tuesday to teach children about being healthy, making a fourth-grader's dream come true in the process.

Defensive end Dwight Freeney spent Tuesday morning working with students at Indianapolis Public School No. 63, in the 1100 block of North Belmont Avenue, on the city's west side.

Jareal Smith was the local winner of NFL Take a Player to School day, a contest sponsored by the league and JCPenney.

Freeney went to Smith's home to pick the boy up for a limousine ride to school.

"You can't tell, but he's very excited," said Christian McNeal, Jareal's mother.

The boy could only muster a "yes" for a response when 6News' Julie Pursley asked him if he was excited when the limo pulled up.

Freeney told the children that helping them is a passion of his.

“I think you are blessed to be put in a certain position in your life, and you're blessed to be put in the position I'm in," he said. "You have to give back to the community."

Smith shared the experience with the rest of the children in his school. They were given a chance to ask Freeney questions about being a Colts player.

The event and contest are part of the NFL's "Play 60" Campaign that encourages children to stay active. Smith's classmates got the chance to get exercise with Freeney.

"It starts young. That's when you can build that foundation and they can become what they want to be," Freeney said.

McNeal said Smith won the opportunity to have Freeney come to their school because they entered a contest on NFLrush.com.

"We've been signing up online for the last three years. We finally got picked this time,” McNeal said.

The NFL is already accepting entries for next year's contest.