Jordan Norwood Classic

Defeating Impossible

 It was impossible for Jordan Norwood to become a champion. He got to Penn State at 5'8", 140 lbs.

It was impossible for Jordan to make the NFL. He couldn't even complete the Combine when he failed to bench 225.

It was impossible for Jordan to find a home after 14 NFL transactions including cuts, waives and trades.

It was impossible for Jordan to make a comeback after tearing his ACL in practice.

Defeating Impossible.

On his first day of rehab, when all others would have raised the white flag and accepted defeat, Jordan said, "I'm excited to see how God will use this to His glory." Two years later, in a Broncos jersey, Jordan catches a punt from the Panthers in Super Bowl 50 and returns it 61 yards setting a Super Bowl record for the longest punt return ever. Jordan and the Broncos went on to defeat the Panthers and win the Super Bowl.

Defeating Impossible.

Jordan Norwood and the Denver Dream Center believe in defeating impossible, that every kid - regardless of how impossible it may seem - can defeat the impossible. That's what this tournament is about.

About Denver Dream Center

When Bryan Sederwall (affectionately known as "Pastor B" in the city) moved to Denver in 2006 he was met with defeat in the streets of the city's housing projects. Gangs, poverty and addiction were impossible hurdles to overcome for the youth and families living in the projects.

Indeed, the statistics seem impossible to defeat. In 2020, overdose deaths increased by 220%. There were more gang-related shootings than the last five years combined. Human trafficking rose exponentially. Homelessness exploded.

Defeat Impossible.  Pastor B started working with gang members, ex-offenders and inmates. Realizing that defeating the impossible cycles of incarceration, poverty, addiction and homelessness start with youth and families, Denver Dream Center developed wrap-around services, pro-social events and crisis-intervention services that now reach 40,000 people annually.

Youth and Sports

Defeating gang involvement and substance abuse issues is often as simple as providing alternative activities. Sports are an incredible medium through which we reach the most at-risk youth in Denver and offer a different pathway. A fun pathway. But we don't just start and stop with sports. Kids getting involved with Denver Dream Center sports funnel into other youth programs and often get their entire families involved with the Dream Center.