Donald Brown Stresses “Natural High” to RBC Students

1964

Story and Photos by Vincent Landolfi, Jr.
RED BANK–Red Bank Catholic (RBC) 2005 graduate Donald Brown, who has played football for the Indianapolis Colts and the San Diego Chargers, was certainly considered a game-changer on the field as a running back.
When Brown, originally from Atlantic Highlands, returned to his alma mater to speak to students on behalf of the Natural High non-profit organization, he was recognized for his life off the field, by being awarded the National Game-Changer Award for 2016.
Red Bank Catholic’s principal Robert Abatemarco echoed the sentiments of friends, teammates, family, and classmates, when he introduced Brown RBC on Nov. 10. “It’s no surprise that this young man is standing here today. Those of us who know him recognized his willingness to give his all, be the best he could be, and act as an example and be a leader. And that has nothing to do with football.”
Natural High, based in San Diego, Calif., is a substance-abuse prevention organization with a mission to inspire young Americans to discover and concentrate on a natural high. They want a spark a drug and alcohol free generation.
Brown was selected for as this year’s recipient due in no small part to his role in not only championing the group’s message, but spreading it eastward to the Atlantic Coast from California, truly forging it as a national entity.
In front of three different groups of students from St. James Elementary School and Red Bank Catholic High School, Brown, who was the NCAA’s leading rusher for the 2008 season at the University of Connecticut, explained the purpose of Natural High, while weaving in stories from his own path to a natural high that ultimately lead him to the National Football League where he is currently a free agent.
“My dream always was to play in the NFL,” he told the captivated teens. “To achieve that goal, I had to work hard and concentrate on it every day. There was no room in my life for anything that would negatively affect my ability to play sports, such as drugs.” He then explained to them another reason for his walk along the straight and narrow which, in part, led him to be able to play in the 2010 Super Bowl as a member of the Indianapolis Colts: “I didn’t want to disappoint my parents.”
All of the approximately 1,200 students who attended the talks, from grades 6-12, were given the chance to view the video Brown made telling his Natural High story, receive the NFL player’s autograph, and more importantly, ask him questions about his story and the program. “For me” he told the group and narrated in the film, “football was a natural high. But whatever your interests or hobbies are, it might be sports, or could be music, art, or something else, surround yourself with people who support your passion, and concentrate on it with a clear head… Just put your blinders on to everything else and move ahead. Trust me, you’ll be alright.”

Students pose with Red Bank Catholic graduate and National Football League player Donald Brown after his speech at the school for the Natural High organization.
Students pose with Red Bank Catholic graduate and National Football League player Donald Brown after his speech at the school for the Natural High organization.

Like many things in Brown’s life, his connection to Natural High runs through Red Bank Catholic. One of the organization’s ambassadors, Mike Costigan, is also an RBC grad (‘90) and close friend of head football coach Frank Edgerly. Having watched Brown play throughout high school, and meeting him several times, Costigan, a partner at Ernst & Young, got a sense for the type of young man he was, and asked his fellow Casey to join forces with Natural High. Brown has always been the type of person who wanted to give back to his school and community. He has worked with a Monmouth County food bank since his high school days. Once he was drafted by the NFL, he started a high school football leadership conference at the Shore. And after being signed as a free agent by the Chargers, he worked, along with his wife Mallory (nee Counihan, RBC ‘04) at a charity called Father Joe’s Village in San Diego.
Another point of consideration in selecting Brown for this year’s award has to do with his willingness to travel to the New Jersey state capitol in Trenton to work with educators, legislators, and other state-level leaders in introducing the Natural High Education Program to middle and high schools across the state. Currently 300 schools are participating in the program, utilizing the organization’s free interactive drug and alcohol prevention curriculum to empower change in the youth of today.
In his remarks, Abatemarco also referenced the gold-colored football encased and displayed in Tradition Hall in RBC’s Eck center, given to every school in the United States that has produced a Super Bowl participant in honor of last year’s fiftieth Super Bowl. That ball represents Brown’s ability as a game-changer on the field. The Natural High award represents his ability to be a game-changer for thousands every day in their individual lives. Brown believes the former would never have become a reality if it weren’t for the latter. “There are people willing to help you. Just be receptive to it, and respectful and loving in return.”