- The first HRYF football camp was originally named the Peninsula All-Star Football Camp and was held at Darling Stadium, Hampton, VA June 20-21, 1997.
- V.I.C.K. Management Group, Inc. was the original name of the foundation named after the founders. The group reformed and Vernon and Carl became the founders of the Hampton Roads Youth Foundation.
- NFL Players that attended the first football camp included Dwight Hollier, Kwamie Lassiter, Martin Mayhew, Mel Gray, Michael Husted, Terry Kirby, Todd Kelly, Reggie Langhorn, and Shaun Gayle.
- The HRYF camp is the longest running active football camp in the history of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Over 9,200 youth have participated in HRYF football camps.
- HRYF has provided over 40,000 free t-shirts, sports memorabilia, reading material, certificates, SAT study guides, and other giveaways to camp participants.
- Mike Tomlin, Head Coach, Pittsburgh Steelers has hosted 11 Meet & Greet events to benefit HRYF programs. Coach Tomlin first attended the HRYF camp as an assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
- Over 100 current and former NFL players, coaches, and front office personnel have participated in HRYF camps and programs.
- HRYF received a proclamation from the City of Hampton November 18, 1998 that was signed by then Mayor Joseph H. Spencer, II
- Former Miami Dolphin and Hall of Famer Dwight Stephenson was the keynote speaker at HRYF’s first gala in 2006.
- Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin was the keynote speaker at HRYF’s second gala held in 2007 and was also honored for being hired as the 16th Head Coach of the franchise.
- HRYF held its first golf tournament event in 2006 which was attended by a number of NFL players such as former Washington Football Team and Cleveland Browns player and Hall of Famer Bobby Mitchell.
- Coach Tommy Reamon, Sr who has coached 10 NFL players including Michael Vick, Aaron Brooks, Kwamie Lassiter, and others hosted the 2001 HRYF camp at Warwick High School, Newport News, VA. Coach Reamon also held the first area youth football camp in 1975 that was attended by Walter Payton, Mean Joe Greene, and others.
- The HRYF camp has been held at Todd Stadium, Newport News, VA. Two of the NFL player attendees included gridiron legends Ron Springs and Mel Gray who both attended Lafayette High School in Williamsburg, VA.
- Michael Vick, number 1 overall draft pick in the NFL draft has participated in multiple HRYF camps and events.
- ESPN, NFL Network, Undefeated, and other national media outlets have covered HRYF football camps and programs.
- The HRYF scholarship program is named after Coach Vernon N. Lee, Sr who was a coach and mentor to Hampton Roads youth for over 40 years.
- Over $20,000 in scholarships have been awarded to High School young men and women by HRYF.
- HRYF has partnered with the Boys and Girls Club for 23 years in providing free camp slots to youth participants.
- Hundreds of African-American women have been instrumental volunteers and staff for HRYF.
- ESPN Analyst Stephen A. Smith had been a guest speaker at HRYF camps.
- Actor John Amos has been a guest speaker at HRYF camps and events.
- Current Councilmen Aaron Rouse and Don Carey have been long-time participants of HRYF programs first as former NFL players.
- Councilman Marcellus Harris, III has participated in over 11 HRYF camps as former Head Coach of Denbigh High School, Newport News, VA
- Co-Founder Carl Francis, Jr attended Bethel High School, Hampton, VA. Bethel alumni include NBA Hall of Famer Allen Iverson, Olympian Francena McCoroy, Coach Mike London, and former NFL players Shaun Gayle, Todd Kelly, Jerry Holmes, and others.
- Co-Founder, Vernon Lee, Jr attended Hampton High School, Hampton, VA. Hampton alumni include 4-star Air Force General Darren W. McDew, Olympian T’Erea Brown, NFL Hall of Famer Dwight Stephenson, current and former NFL players Tyrod Taylor, Ronald Curry, Marques Hagans, Robert Banks, Elton Brown, & others.
- Current NFL Network analyst and former NFL Players DeAngelo Hall and Michael Robinson have been participants in HRYF programs.
- Current ACC Network analyst and former NFL player EJ Manual first participated in HRYF programs as a student-athlete at Bayside High School, Va Beach.
- NFL Hall of Famer and current Jackson State Head Football Coach Deion “Prime Time” Sanders was a guest speaker for an HRYF coaches forum.
- James Church, Priority Toyota and Kevin Knight, Knight Solutions have been the largest financial sponsorship supporters of HRYF.
- Virginia Peninsula Foodbank has provided food and drinks to HRYF camp participants for over 20 years.
- National Sports Commentator Michael Smith has been a guest speaker at HRYF camps and events.
- Current NFL players Andrew Brown, Chris Peace, Chuck Clark, Derrick Nnadi, Jaylon Holmes, Josh Sweat, Laroy Reynolds, Trent Cannon (former camper), Rashaad Coward, and Tyrod Taylor (former camper) have all been counselors at HRYF camps, events, and programs.
- HRYF has hosted multiple high school student-athlete recruiting events with football coaches from over 40 colleges.
- Co-Founder Carl Francis, Jr and son Branden Francis are the only father & son to submit their team’s draft selection at the NFL draft. Carl did it with the Washington Football Team and Branden with the Cleveland Browns.
- Over 25 young ladies have participated in HRYF football camps.
- Co-founders Carl Francis, Jr and Vernon Lee, Jr both attended HBCUs. Carl attended Virginia Union University in Richmond, VA and Vernon Howard University in Washington, DC. They are also both members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
- Former Olympic gold medalist and world boxing champion Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker has been a participant in HRYF events.
- Hundreds of HRYF campers have attended college on full and partial scholarships, received their degrees, and are now business leaders, healthcare professionals, members of law enforcement, coaches, entrepreneurs, counselors, financial advisors, teachers, creatives, and cyber security.
- HRYF Board Member Keith Powell and son Jalen Powell both played football at Hampton High School and Norfolk State University. Keith has coached high school football for over 25 years and Jalen was a HRYF camper since he was 8 years old.
- HRYF held its first camp weekend welcome reception that included the event’s Honorary Chairman Reggie Langhorn, in June 1997.
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