Ravens lineman Jason Brown has learned a lot from his three years in the National Football League. And one day, he plans to pass it on to Baltimore youth.
Brown lent a hand to Sandtown Habitat for Humanity in the renovation of a row home at 1339 N. Fulton St., presented to Phebe Johnson and her daughter Dawn on Tuesday. Brown offered his handyman services through the Ravens? All Community Team Foundation, which partnered with several organizations on the project.
But Brown said he hopes one day to create his own foundation, which he said he would call Wisdom for Life and would pass the life skills the NFL has taught him on to area youth.
Finding the energy to do community work after a tough game isn’t always easy, but Brown said he enjoys being active in Baltimore ? a determination that separates that work from more scripted events.
“There’s some activities that we call face time, which are PR,” Brown said. “There are some things where, yeah, I just played a game, but I’m down here busting my butt when I could be just sitting at home.”
The Ravens? players support each other’s efforts, and veterans encourage the younger players to give back to Baltimore, said Kenny Abrams, Ravens director of community relations.
“A lot of guys are not from the area,” he said. “It really helps these guys get out here, and get to know Baltimore.”
Ravens players and Coach Brian Billick have created 15 nonprofit foundations, according to the Ravens? team Web site. Some cover specific areas of interest, such as the Kyle Boller Fund to support the families of fallen firefighters and promote fire safety. Others are wide-ranging, like the Ray Lewis Foundation, providing personal and economic assistance to disadvantaged youth.
Many players follow a similar path as Brown to creating their own foundation, according to Carl Francis, communications director for the NFL Players Association. Francis said players may spend time volunteering through the team’s community relations office and getting to know the city they play in before starting a foundation, usually in an area they have an interest in.
“Once he gets comfortable, he usually takes on a cause he has personal investment in,” Francis said.
Their efforts don’t go unnoticed by city officials, including City Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, who attended the presentation Tuesday of the Johnsons? new Fulton Street home.
“The Ravens know it is not an obligation but a benefit of living in the city to be able to participate,” she said.
Some of the Ravens players? foundations
» Kyle Boller, Kyle Boller Fund: Helps families of firefighters who have given their lives in the line of duty, promotes fire safety and assists active-duty firefighters and policemen in the Baltimore area.
» Todd Heap, Todd Heap Foundation: Raises money to benefit underprivileged children.
» Ray Lewis, Ray Lewis Foundation: Provides personal and economic assistance to disadvantaged youth.
» Ed Reed, Eye of the Hurricane Foundation: Holds football camps at Destrehan (La.) High School and assists youth in his hometown. Reed also adopted Booker T. Washington Middle School in Baltimore, and visits the school regularly and provides tickets to students for Ravens home games.
» Bart Scott, A Son Never Forgets Foundation: Assists individuals and families of individuals who are suffering with significant medical conditions, specifically paraplegia.
» Matt Stover, Matt Stover Foundation: Provides financial support to qualified organizations for charitable, religious, scientific and educational purposes.
