Negativity and selfishness gets great publicity in our social networking, indirect-contact society. You’d be led to believe the world’s running low on good people and that no one cares for or respects one another anymore. Their only concerns are themselves; and when they’re in need, no one is willing to lend them a hand without reward.
This is not the case. Kind, caring, selflessly-generous people still exist. LaMarr Woodley is a shining example.
We should look up to Woodley. Sure, he stands 6’2 with exceptional speed and strength. It’s fine to admire his athletic prowess and success as a professional football player. Let’s also applaud the heights he’s reached as a media personality and philanthropist. The Saginaw, MI native was a standout defender at University of Michigan. Once in the NFL he became a Pro Bowl linebacker, winning Super Bowl XLII as a key member of Pittsburgh Steelers’ championship defense.
Off the field Woodley has kept busy giving back to the community while growing as a media personality. With his The LaMarr Woodley Foundation he’s paid athletic fees for public schools, created food drives for the homeless, provided holiday gifts for hospitalized children, and funded free football camps and educational programs.
On television he educates and entertainers vehicle owners as co-host of Tackle My Ride on NFL Network. While good at what he does, he’s also a good person and one who believes in helping others.
I asked LaMarr Woodley to tell me about a time when he did something nice for someone he didn’t know. Here’s what he shared.
“The biggest thing, and it might have been 2012 or 2013, I heard the Saginaw public schools system had to do pay-to-play – the students had to pay to play sports.
One of my good friends told me that they were charging kids to play sports. I felt like by the kids having to pay they were going to miss out on an opportunity to get mentorship from coaches and miss out on scholarship opportunities. Missing out on those chances, those kids are going to be out in the streets doing I don’t know what!
We know every parent can’t afford to pay for their kids to play sports because they probably have multiple kids, and we’re talking a couple hundred dollars to play sports.
I didn’t hesitate. I didn’t think about it. I wrote a $60,000 check in 2 days and gave it to the school. I told them I don’t want a press release, I don’t want anything! I just want to make sure that every kid had an opportunity to participate in sports, to have a chance to get mentored by coaches, and not miss a chance on a scholarship opportunity.
Without Saginaw I’m not the person I am today. They put me in the position to get the money I have today. If I can’t give back to 100-and-something students? Shame on me!
I did that out of the kindness of my heart, I wasn’t looking for nothing, and I felt like it was well worth every cent!” |THIS.
[By Mr. Joe Walker]
“We are the ones who make a brighter day, so let’s start giving.” – ‘We Are the World’
