Adrian Phillips, 2010 Garland High School graduate and standout football player recently came home to Garland to host a free kids’ football camp through his charitable foundation.
He and his wife Camille, a pediatrician, started the L.A.K.E. Foundation. The couple met at the University of Texas and have been together ever since. They have two children, 2-years-old and 5-months-old.
The foundation focuses on four main pillars:
L – Lessening food insecurity – they want to ensure that every child is fed because malnutrition directly affects their progress.
A – Assisting with athletics. Another goal is to ensure that kids are active and playing some kind of sport. Phillips believes that sports programs teach children about everyday life as well as how to communicate with everyone.
K – Kindness in action – The foundation will promote being kind to everyone and helping others in need. Phillips wants to teach kids to give others a hand and simply to be nice.
E – Elevate lives through education. They want to make sure kids are serious about school because they won’t make it to the next level if their grades aren’t good. We also want to teach them financial literacy as well as how to navigate life.
Phillips will be coming back to Garland to give more help in the community.
He feels that the kids need to see someone in his position giving back to the city. He added that when he was growing up, he and his friends didn’t have examples like that. It’s also important to Phillips that kids get to attend a camp that’s free.
The L.A.K.E. Foundation partners with 5 Loaves Ministry in Sachse. They will also be looking for more food pantries to work with.
After high school graduation, Phillips played football for the University of Texas Longhorns. After college, he signed with the San Diego Chargers where he was named First Team All-Pro in 2018. Phillips then signed with the New England Patriots where he also enjoyed success. The Patriots released him early in 2024, and he is hoping to be picked up by another team.
“It’s been 10 years, so right now I’m just waiting for my next opportunity,” he said. “If I’m fortunate enough to get a call, then I’m definitely going to jump on that. If not, then we’ll figure out where that next path takes me…I’ve been blessed to play 10 years, and it has been great. I want to continue playing, but we’ll see.”
Phillips knew he would play in the NFL as soon as he ‘knew what the NFL was.’ He said that it was always his dream, and he had no Plan B.
His dad told him that if he was going to play in the NFL he’d have to work hard, and that was no problem for Phillips. He was willing to do the work. He began training with his older brother at a young age, and he watched him play football for Lakeview Centennial High School. He loved watching his brother play running back and going up against Garland High School.
“He [my brother] was my idol,” Phillips said. “…I always wanted to follow in his footsteps.”
He wanted to play for LCHS, but his brother thought it would be better to go to GHS. Phillips liked playing football at GHS, and he also liked the tradition and history of the school.
“That Garland culture is still there,” he said. “…There’s just something about that black and gold.”
Phillips added that all the Garland ISD high schools are great.
His advice to young athletes is to ‘stay consistent.’
“I wasn’t the best,” he said. “I just stayed focused and kept my head on the right path. I knew what my goal was, and I wanted to achieve it.”
Photos courtesy of Capture Sports & Entertainment, Albert Rodriguez.