Harding High outstanding athlete and scholar, Penn State linebacker,
a number two who could level even a Buckeye quarterback.
But even this strong-bodied tackler was leveled by a doctor's diagnosis in his first year at Penn
State, a rare and painful enzyme disorder that attacked his muscles.
"I felt like half my life was over, and you know, what was I gonna do," Toles said.
Working with Coach Paterno, he continued to play , but only about 30 plays a game.
And he still went pro as an Indianapolis Colt until another injury put
him on injured reserves and back in Warren.
"When I came home, I saw these kids and I started seeing a little bit of me in all of them, and
that's what made me create the program," Toles said.
The program is called Inspiring Minds, Deryck's non-profit group that matches kids with their
dream careers, literally showing them how to get there through field trips to New York, Atlanta
and Milwaukee.
"You go to Essence Magazine and all you're thinking is the magazine, but I'm teaching them to
meet the writers, the columnists, the producers, the event coordinators the graphic design. And
maybe somewhere in there you think, i do like that," Toles said.
He sponsors ball teams and visits schools like Warren's Jefferson Elementary to inspire kids that
homelife and poverty aren't excuses..
"My mom was this way, my father was this way or they weren't there, we dont have money, you
don't understand. You can't say that to me, because I've been there," Toles said.
At 13 Deryck chose to leave a troubled home in Columbus and live with his grandma in Warren
to play hard and study hard and now to help kids, especially at-risk teens.
"I don't condone the things they do, but there's a respect there cause I can understand why they
do the things they do, so I sit down and I say look I know what you're going through but let me
show you your options, because if I can make it, I know you can," Toles said.
a number two who could level even a Buckeye quarterback.
But even this strong-bodied tackler was leveled by a doctor's diagnosis in his first year at Penn
State, a rare and painful enzyme disorder that attacked his muscles.
"I felt like half my life was over, and you know, what was I gonna do," Toles said.
Working with Coach Paterno, he continued to play , but only about 30 plays a game.
And he still went pro as an Indianapolis Colt until another injury put
him on injured reserves and back in Warren.
"When I came home, I saw these kids and I started seeing a little bit of me in all of them, and
that's what made me create the program," Toles said.
The program is called Inspiring Minds, Deryck's non-profit group that matches kids with their
dream careers, literally showing them how to get there through field trips to New York, Atlanta
and Milwaukee.
"You go to Essence Magazine and all you're thinking is the magazine, but I'm teaching them to
meet the writers, the columnists, the producers, the event coordinators the graphic design. And
maybe somewhere in there you think, i do like that," Toles said.
He sponsors ball teams and visits schools like Warren's Jefferson Elementary to inspire kids that
homelife and poverty aren't excuses..
"My mom was this way, my father was this way or they weren't there, we dont have money, you
don't understand. You can't say that to me, because I've been there," Toles said.
At 13 Deryck chose to leave a troubled home in Columbus and live with his grandma in Warren
to play hard and study hard and now to help kids, especially at-risk teens.
"I don't condone the things they do, but there's a respect there cause I can understand why they
do the things they do, so I sit down and I say look I know what you're going through but let me
show you your options, because if I can make it, I know you can," Toles said.
| Toles to appear on ‘Oprah’ Was nominated as an ‘inspiration’ November 18, 2010 - By MARLY KOSINSKI Tribune Chronicle WARREN - Deryck Toles has inspired hundreds of students over the past four years through his Inspiring Minds organization. On Tuesday, it was his turn to be inspired as the former football standout was interviewed by Oprah Winfrey for a segment to air Monday as part of a show on inspiring people. Toles was nominated for the show by Kim Winfrey, who is not related to the talk show queen. Winfrey said she sent an e-mail to the Oprah show about six weeks ago in response to a call for nominations of inspiring people. Two weeks ago, she received an invitation to appear on the show with Toles. The pair left for Chicago Tuesday morning and spent more than six hours at Oprah's studio. They returned to Warren Wednesday afternoon. Toles and Winfrey said they are not allowed to discuss the show until after the segment airs, but both of them described the experience as "thrilling." Oprah is known for her philanthropy, and guests on the show usually walk away with gifts. Toles said he was not allowed to discuss what happened but said "it was a really great day." He said there were people at the studio from all over the country, as well as one woman from Jamaica. Toles said Oprah told him she received thousands of letters from all over the world. "It was a blessing we were chosen," Toles said. He said he did not go on the show expecting anything and was honored to meet Oprah and the other people at the taping session. He said he also was honored that Winfrey thought enough of him to write the letter. In her letter, Winfrey says Toles founded Inspiring Minds hoping to expose students to things they may not otherwise have had the opportunity to experience. "From trips to college tours, even community service, his kids have an opportunity of a lifetime. They can see for themselves what the world has to offer them," she wrote. Winfrey said what people don't see is all the time and energy it takes for Toles to run all these programs. "Meeting after meeting, from sun up to sundown, it's like having a full-time job. Not only is he an inspiration to the kids, but he's an inspiration to me being a single mom. And I know there is somebody out there who cares if my kids continue their education. And who wants them to be successful, well rounded young adults. I am inspired to be a better person because of what he does," Winfrey wrote. Her daughter, Keyauna Elzy, graduated from Warren G. Harding High School in June and is now attending the University of Toledo majoring in criminal justice. She said Keyauna was only in Inspiring Minds for one year, but she talked about Toles all the time. "Her dad is not involved in her life, so he was kind of like a father figure for her. She still seeks his advice and I am grateful for his involvement because I did not attend college so there are a lot of things I cannot help her with that he can," Winfrey said. Her other daughter, Aris Bender, is a freshman at Harding and this is her first year in Inspiring Minds. Inspiring Minds was founded by Toles in April 2006 as a way to promote the development of youth and adolescent dreams through exposure to new experiences. It also aims to motivate and educate students to overcome obstacles. "I learned so much from Oprah. She would talk to the audience in between taping segments and it was awe-inspiring to be around someone who does what I do on a much larger scale," Toles said. Toles, 29, graduated from Harding in 1999 and went on to play football for Penn State University. He briefly played in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons and Cleveland Browns, but was permanently sidelined while on the Indianapolis Colts roster because of complications from a sports hernia. mkosinski@tribtoday.com |