Cornerback/Safety Jalen Ramsey - Safety Corner Foundation
When friends come together to make a difference, good things can happen.
And that is exactly what has been the case with the Safety Corner Foundation.
Started by former Florida State teammates, NFL standouts and good friends Jalen Ramsey and Derwin James, the foundation has set out to make a difference in the lives of those who need a hand in their hometowns and cities where they have played.
"I am focused on helping underprivileged kids and underserved communities, trying to bridge the gap, raise money and resources for them to have the same things that kids in better communities have access to," said Ramsey. "Honestly, that's our mission. It is catered towards the youth, but it's not just the youth.
"I know Derwin does a lot of things for the elderly and single mothers. I'm usually on the kid side of stuff a little bit more.
"Derwin's been my best friend for a while now and we both have always been in the communities in our respective cities. We were both doing things separately but always showing up for each other. It made sense to put our heads together and try to do something together, it would bring even more awareness to what we were trying to get done."
Ramsey's passion for wanting to help kids isn't because he lacked what he needed.
It's because he saw others lacked some of the necessities needed, especially when it came to the digital divide in society.
"Growing up, my parents worked extremely hard," said Ramsey. "My dad was a fireman, mom worked nine to five. They worked extremely hard to be able to give me things they felt were important for my development and my growth in life in general.
"I was able to go to a private school for high school, I got to see the types of things we had there. My homies, they didn't necessarily have those things. We would get to go to class and have a laptop or computer or stuff like that. It wasn't the same in the previous public schools that I went to. And better results came from having better access. The graduation rate was 100% at the private school, kids going to college 90% of the time. It was a big difference for some of my friends in public schools in the inner city.
"So, from that point, I really understood the importance of it. And then as I got older, giving back to the community, being in the community, we got to see a lot. We got to see the vast differences.
"When I signed my second contract, right after I signed with the Rams, I started sponsoring a school in Nashville called Purpose Prep. It's a charter school and their mission was super important to me. I've always been trying to find even more opportunities and ways to help bridge that gap and partner with people who have that same mission as me.
"I want everyone to have opportunities to pursue their real dreams and have the access to resources to develop and grow. It sounds cliché, but I think children are our future. The better foundation you can help them build, the better off we all will be."
As Ramsey said, one of his main passions is helping those at Purpose Preparatory Academy. He said he felt passionate about the work the school, led by founder Legra Newman, was doing.
Ramsey made a $1 million donation to the school in 2020 and has been a constant supporter of the school in the Nashville area, where he hails from. The donation helped Purpose Prep in purchasing technology and additional resources and expanding programming, especially for those from underprivileged backgrounds. Purpose Prep, which opened in 2013, serves kindergarten through fourth grade students with an emphasis on academic success, identify affirmation, and positive character development.
"This is a long-term project I am a part of," said Ramsey. "I love their mission. I love what they are doing. My two oldest kids went to the school, before our whole family moved. Anytime I'm in Nashville, I stop by and see the kids at the school. Check in on them, see how they are doing.
"They do a great job, honestly. They throw a gala every year, and the kids are the hosts. The young kids are speaking and reading and basically orchestrating that whole gala. So, it's pretty cool.
"That's my hometown, so I'm always going to help there, do something for my hometown."
Ramsey hosts a summer bash for kids to enjoy the simple pleasures, as well as receive back to school supplies, while James holds a football camp.
Ramsey loves the opportunity to share the excitement with his hometown, always wanting to give back to the community that gave so much to him. He has also hosted the event in Los Angeles and Miami, two cities where he has played.
"I do the summer bash right before the start of school," said Ramsey. "Kids just get to be kids, have fun at jump houses, food trucks, games. It helps them get excited for back to school.
"I want the kids to know there is more than football. Even for me, I love football to death. Football is my life, but there's more than just football. You can use football as a vehicle to succeed in other areas of life. That's my big thing. I want the kids to know that and get excited for school and have those opportunities to get excited and still see me, Derwin and the other people who I have show up.
"I want to do anything I can for the kids."