Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski recently got paid, and now he’s paying some of it forward.
A partnership between the Gronkowski family (he has four brothers), the Gronk Nation Youth Foundation, G&G Fitness (owned by family patriarch Gordy Gronkowski), the DEA, the New York-New Jersey High Intensity Drug Area program, and the Buffalo Bills Youth Foundation has resulted in the purchase of $30,000 in equipment for the gym at a Buffalo-area treatment facility for young people fighting drug addiction.
According to Dan Herbeck of the Buffalo News, money seized from drug dealers also contributed to the project.
“When these kids are on the street, doing drugs, they usually forget all about their bodies and their health,” facility recreation specialist Diane Mancuso said. “All they care about is the drugs. When they come here, one of the things we start them on is working out, exercising and starting to feel good about themselves again. It’s all part of the process of recovery.”
Part of the process of recovery will include Rob Gronkowski making an appearance in connection with Friday’s grand opening of the new workout room.
“It was perfect timing,” Gordy Gronkowski said. “We had started the foundation and were looking for ways to help kids in the community where my sons grew up.”
“When you’re growing up, you need to stay around people who are headed in the right direction and stay away from people who will take you in the wrong direction,” Rob Gronkowski said.
Kudos to the Gronks for making a difference. But here’s hoping Rob doesn’t violently spike any dumbbells at the grand opening.