I love to read about people living up to their responsibilities.. to find that there are people out there who have been given much... and understand that much is expected of them!! Here is a story about San Fransisco 49ers member, Braylon Edwards...
Braylon Edwards gave 79 students $10,000 for college
At 22 college campuses across the country, there are 79 students who may not otherwise be there if not for the generosity of Braylon Edwards.As a Cleveland Browns rookie in 2005, Edwards announced he'd give $10,000 in scholarships to 100 area eighth graders if they could graduate high school with over a 2.5 GPA and 15 hours community service. Of the 100 who were afforded the opportunity, 79 met the criteria and have begun their first year of college. Many are attending Ohio universities, but the schools represented spread across the country and include Harvard, Cornell and Johns Hopkings.
"Without this scholarship, I probably wouldn't be here," Bowling Green freshman David Gholston told ESPN's Rick Reilly.
Edwards and his mother developed the Advance 100 program as a way to give back. The way they saw it, they were blessed with Edwards' football abilities and felt the need to help out others with their good fortune. Though they didn't expect so many of the students to fit the criteria (only half of Cleveland public school students graduate high school), Edwards didn't shy away from his commitment. In fact, he increased it.
The 79 students were provided with laptops and other supplies to help them out when they arrived on campus.
"I'm supposed to give people a chance like I was given a chance," Edwards said.
Edwards hasn't played for the Browns in two years. He's a member of the San Francisco 49ers this season and is earning a $1 million base salary for the year, just about what he'll pay the those 79 students he promised to help years ago.
It's great what he is doing, but it frustrates me because my kids really try hard at school and succeed--but they can't get scholarships because of their skin color. I'd love it if my kids had a chance at this money--they'd do him proud. And they'd make good use of his money.
ReplyDeleteI understand the frustration Lin.. From what I understood this program was based on need.. which bothers me immensely that there is so much more NEED in different races.
ReplyDeleteI know my kids can not claim any specific heritage and have been passed over for some scholarships as well but there have been others.
And it's great to see an NFL player making the right choice.. instead of participating in criminal acts.. I know there are many good and decent young men involved in this league.. it's great to see one of those spotlighted for once
I agree! Great story Shauni. I wasn't aware of this, and I live in SF. It was so refreshing to see you, writing about it. Thank you.
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