Dude Perfect, the Frisco-based trick shot empire, may be the epitome of internet culture banality, but now the group is using its power for good. We applaud it.
If you’re not a preteen or the parent of one, you may not be familiar with the five young men who have built YouTube’s top sports channel, with 56 million subscribers, by producing viral videos of impossibly difficult trick shots involving everything from basketballs to nerf guns. Dude Perfect’s channel is one of those internet rabbit holes that can entertain for hours on end.
Last month, Dude Perfect announced that it is partnering with iD Tech, a STEM education program that offers summer tech camps for kids. The courses will teach video editing, video effects and video game design. The first class is free and open to kids and their parents. It started Monday.
Dude Perfect has built a sizable following, making appearances with dozens of the world’s most famous athletes and celebrities from Aaron Rodgers to Zac Efron. But so far the group has not gained notoriety for any cause beyond goofing off. We’re glad they’re taking this step to point their 56 million followers toward education.
“We have this platform, and we’re always thinking of the best ways to use it,” Dude Perfect member Coby Cotton told us in an email. “What we liked about this opportunity in particular is that with iD Tech, we are able to offer $150,000 worth of iD Tech virtual tech camp scholarships to underserved youth in the Dallas-Fort Worth area specifically. Our hope is that we can inspire kids at young ages to get creative, learn how to make videos and provide them with all the tools they need to get started.”
It’s hard not to love this group of five good friends who seem to always be having a good time and who celebrate wildly when a shot goes in. For their efforts not just to entertain but also to be a positive influence for millions of young people, we celebrate with them.
The Dallas Morning News
