One of the nice things about covering the NFL is seeing how many NFL players use their considerable wealth to help the less fortunate.
We especially see that during the holiday season, with players on all 32 NFL teams stepping forward to make donations for people who otherwise wouldn't have holiday celebrations.
Today the Fort Myers News-Press passes along one such story: The Jevon Kearse Foundation has given out more than 600 Thanksgiving meals to people in Fort Myers.
"Jevon does this every year and it's a good event especially with the economy being like it is," said Keith White, a Boys & Girls Clubs unit director who helped out with the distribution of Thanksgiving turkeys. "A lot of people were coming up and saying thank you and that they needed it."
Other NFL players with Fort Myers ties, including the Buccaneers' Ernest Graham and the Lions' Anthony Henry also participated.
Kearse donates 600 Thanksgiving meals
Posted by Michael David Smith on November 21, 2009 4:10 PM ET
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31 Comments
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@ Rocky. Wow dude. Why dont you give up money then for the needy. You shouldn't be on the internet. The money you spend for the net is money you could give away. Thats right, your just a little kid, whose parents gets them everything.
Rocky70 says:
November 21, 2009 4:33 PM
Oh, boy !!!
600 meals times say $5 a meal = 3 grand.
He gets paid more than that for the first 5 minutes of any game. .... Pretty lame in my book.... It's equivalent to me dropping 2 bits in a Salvation Army kettle..... Sad that he gets any recognition for such trivial charity efforts.
Straight from the Mike Florio School for Advanced Cynical and Negative studies. I'm pretty sure this isnt the only charitable thing he does all year and I'm also pretty sure he didnt go out advertising this to get attention. Most athletes are grateful for all they have, and pay it forward accordingly. Unfortunately we only really hear about the bad seeds. It's sad that most of us are so jaded, we love to build up heroes, but even more we love to see them stumble because it makes us feel better about our own less that fulfilling lives. Give it a break! It amazes how many people read this website despite having zero positive things to ever say about it. Some people arent happy unless they are unhappy.
SKOL VIKINGS!
Good for Jevon.
This is not the thing to be flaming a guy for.
"Pretty lame in my book" well, you sure would know lame.
"It's equivalent to me dropping 2 bits in a Salvation Army kettle" No. It's not. Do you even know how long he has been doing this? It hasn't cost him your imaginary 3K total.
"Sad that he gets any recognition for such trivial charity efforts." Yeah, I bet people getting attention for donating thousands of dollars on an annual basis really boils your blood. Do you think the people eating the dinners think its "trivial"?
Kearse could do what almost every other NFL player and wealthy citizen does.... Nothing.
Wow.....Douchebag much Rocky?
Always good when players give back especially when it does make those happy that receive it....
Ok, lets see you give out 600 turkeys on Thanksgiving. In fact, do you give to charity at all? 600 families will have meals Thanksgiving due to his gift to them. However small the cost may be to him with regard to his overall salary, it's 600 more families that can eat that day then there would be if he gave nothing.
Rocky,
you are an idiot. I dont know where you have ever had a $5 thanksgiving meal, but, it might help explain your backwards way of thinking. Would Kearse donating his entire salary for the year get him out of the "trivial" category?
Get a life.
People like Rocky70 remind you that, when implementing the new comments rating system, there must be ability to go into negative digits.
First off, I don't think it is right to assume you know what he spent. I'm guessing "meals" in this sense = whole, frozen turkeys, which run you more like 30 bucks than 5.
More importantly, what kind of negative, waste of space goes around pissing on people's charity efforts? What have YOU done Rocky that gives you the right to critique other people's charity?
Many players may use their "foundations" for lessening any tax liabilities, but they (the players) don't have to give anything at all. When people are doing this, rather than "making it rain" inside strip clubs, it's commendable that some can at look beyond their own situation, and see the plight of the less fortunate. So Boooyah Rocky, are you mad because no one is cutting you a check?
That term "less fortunate" is a bit misleading.. using that term implies the people are in that situation because they are unlucky. The overwhelming majority of those people are there because of the sum total of their life decisions, not anything to do with luck.
Jevon Kearse is a hero to lot's of folks here in southwest florida. He got himself out of a tough background through hard work. We have some really impoverished communities and what he and Deion and many others do throughout the year is needed and greatly appreciated. A shout out as well to Steve Mariucci and Larry Izzo who do great things for their highschool and hometown of Iron Mountain, Mi. The NFL has a long history of giving back to the community that as fans should make us all proud.
True giving to those who need involves sacrifice.... Jevon Kearse made no sacrifices in this 'charitable effort' thus the whopping 600 recipients.... My guess is that Jevon Kearse is not even aware of his contribution...... Most of you with the 'negative reaction' are just being duped (again) by someone's PR machine..... A little independent thought will help you realize how the world truly is........... You're told what they want you to believe......... then you follow suit.... like a good lemming always does.
Class move.
Per pmw1718
" The overwhelming majority of those people are there because of the sum total of their life decisions, not anything to do with luck. "
What an asinine statement....... You & your attitude are part of the problem..... Have you ever heard of opportunities in life ?? ....... Take away your support system, educational system & your inherited economic system, where would you be in life ?? ........ You would be handed one of those 600 turkeys & told that a 'kind & caring' professional football player has made sure you'll not go hungary today....... Wow, you are easy to satisfy......... Count your blessings & then find another morsel of food on Friday after Thanksgiving........... Pathetic.
Someone who has lost their job due to downsizing and the economy (or who have had to take pay cuts) ARE "less fortunate." Has nothing to do with their skills, etc. The economy has hurt a lot of people.
Good thing that Kearse is doing, no harm at all in helping people, regardless of the degree, he has a right to every penny that he's earned, any that he chooses to donate to others, regardless of the reason, is appreciated greatly by those that recieve it, if its not, then they don't deserve it.
As for the people that are on the recieving end of it, Alot of it does have to do with the combined effect of their life desicions. You can make it on minimum wage in this country easily. you may not have the house that you want, or the cars/flat screens/computers (any other unneccesary status symbol), but you can keep a roof over your head and food in your stomach. The line of work that I'm in see's a ton of people choose to buy big screen TV's this time of year instead of paying their rent, then they get help from the county, this year there are going to be people that are not going to get their usual checks from the county because the county is out of money, instead of paying their rent, there are going to be some morons buying new TV's, then blaming it on the economy when they lose their house. people that plan ahead and are prepared don't have to worry about hard economic times, we save and invest in things other than big screens, new cars, and houses we can't afford. its people like the ones buying the TV that caused this credit and economic mess in the first place, and are now the ones getting the damn handout.
but yeah, Kearse did a good thing here, glad that PFT is reporting it, its doubtful the guy is looking for publicity but its helping people and thats the way to go.
Rocky70 says:
".... My guess is..."
That says it all Rocky, it's a guess on your part which brings you perfectly in line with PFT lately.
Congrats PFT- an positive piece about a player. Given that the NFL is the reason this sites exists it would be nice to hear some more positive NFL stories.
Hey Bluestree, though we fall on different sides of the Packer-Vikings debate we do have one thing in common. My moms side of the family comes from Iron Mountain, Michigan. I remember watching Sportscenter when they were interviewing both of them and she got all excited. She has no interest in sports, but she echoes your sentiments about the genuine kindness of both Izzo and Mariucci
Rocky, how many turkeys in your humble and stupid opinion are enough? 10k, 20k? He is not obligated to do a damn thing, and he didnt ask for ackowledgement on this blog. If everyone with the means did what Kearse did, no one in this country would go hungry on Turkey Day. Go crawl back in your hole
Good job Mr. Smith on reporting this. Keep asking Florio to step up and do a few "good news" stories but he never seems to, must be the lawyer in him.
Whether this made a serious dent in Kearse's wallet or not the fact he did it is a nice gesture. Imagine how many people it would help if every NFL starter did it?
Per VikingsPimp
" Most athletes are grateful for all they have, and pay it forward accordingly. "
And you know this how ?? ....... This is your opinion based on absolutely 'zero' support...... The truth is simple..... Most professsional athletes live lives of self-adoration & contribute little to society except for their entertainment value........ Although some actually use their status & influence for positive change, the over-whelming majority base their lives on individual desires that have little to nothing to offer those in need............. Drop your idol worship & you'll realize a few truths.
# Rocky70 says: November 21, 2009 6:15 PM
Per pmw1718
" The overwhelming majority of those people are there because of the sum total of their life decisions, not anything to do with luck. "
"What an asinine statement....... You & your attitude are part of the problem..... Have you ever heard of opportunities in life ?? ....... Take away your support system, educational system & your inherited economic system, where would you be in life ?? ........ You would be handed one of those 600 turkeys & told that a 'kind & caring' professional football player has made sure you'll not go hungary today....... Wow, you are easy to satisfy......... Count your blessings & then find another morsel of food on Friday after Thanksgiving........... Pathetic."
"
Growing up I would have been one of those 600 families. Now, I do very well for myself because of life choices I made.
1. I was my support system
2. Education system? You talking about the same education system that everyone has access to?
3 I inherited no money.
The fact is people for the most part are in situations they are in because of themselves.
It is rather nice to hear a good story coming from this site for once. I applaud Javon Kearse for donating year after year, how about a match from PFT?
Good for "The Freak."
Rocky70"My guess is that Jevon Kearse is not even aware of his contribution"
--
Another pathetic guess in which you use your imagination to pretend that Kearse isn't even aware whats going on. You have no basis for saying that. Just felt like making another ignorant guess. Go ahead and disregard all of the fundraisers and charitable events Kearse has been at personally through his foundation over the years. Do some research idiot.
Rocky70"You're told what they want you to believe......... then you follow suit.... like a good lemming always does."
--
Your worse then those people. You make up what you want to believe and then beieve it. Simple as that. In your mind Kearse is a selfish athlete who isn't even aware that he spends thousands annually to feed the hungry on Thanksgiving (as in this is just one of the many years he has done this).
You even pretend that the Jevon Kearse foundation hasn't been doing charitable deads for years and years. Thansgiving is just a small part of it. How pathetic do you have to be to be ragging on what is one of the most successful player charities by a current player.
@VikingsPimp; I have a friend from Iron Mountain who went to school with "Mook", as he was known then. I remember him from Northern Michigan U. where he was qb. Even as a prep star he always had the rep of being a truly nice guy. "Say Ya' fer the UP, hey!"
I remember when Florida got ravaged by that hurricane in 2004 and Kearse went around personally and gave to hundreds of families that were hit by the devastation. One of the many things he has done.
I got a good laugh out of Rocky70 calling people "sheep" for believing Kearse was a charitable guy when anyone who follows the situation knows he has been that way since he was a young man in the honors society at Florida. I hate these kids who lie for no reason and then just hope no one calls them on it.
@bluestree...UP'ers are some of the best people around. That part of America has been especially hard hit by the economic downturn.
good news, more things like this should be reported but the media only loves reporting the negatives...as for that Rocky dude, you can always tell the miserable ones who make the internet their life and not just a part of it. They are the ones who will make the best stories out to be the worst, and the worst the best thing ever...it's called misery, and it loves company...such pathetic lives some people live
@VikingsPimp; Yeah, always been kind of a tough life up there. Maybe some of the socio-economic genius posting here can explain how it's there own fault. The Sam Kennison solution..."Why don't you just move!"
Rocky70
"What an asinine statement....... You & your attitude are part of the problem..... Have you ever heard of opportunities in life ?? ....... Take away your support system, educational system & your inherited economic system, where would you be in life ?? ........ You would be handed one of those 600 turkeys & told that a 'kind & caring' professional football player has made sure you'll not go hungary today....... Wow, you are easy to satisfy......... Count your blessings & then find another morsel of food on Friday after Thanksgiving........... Pathetic"
Opportunities in life? Of course. This is the "Land of Opportunity", not the "Land of Equal Results." You are your own support system if need be because in the end you are responsible for the choices you make. Education systems are readily available. You can take out student loans and/or work your way through college to get an education. Again, your choices. Inherited Economic system? You mean what we used to call the Free Market that is being stripped away right now? Maybe you prefer me working for your sustenance. If so, enjoy the future that is Socialism. That boils down to taking from the achievers and giving to the moochers. And that moocher class is about to grow.
The bottom line is you are the sum of the decisions you have made, whether good or bad. You are (should) be responsible for yourself, not having me or anyone else take care of you.
As for his donation. If is his money to donate. Why does it matter how much he donates? It's his choice.. He earns his living and he should decide how it is spent, and if that means giving some away, even a small amount, why disparage him because you think he hasn't given enough? You give what you want and he will give what he wants.