There is a lot of negative news in the media, so to bring positivity to all in 2023, I have been writing a series of articles on people doing good for their community.
Today I wanted to look at a man who was born and raised in Portland and has been very generous in his charitable donations.
That man is Ndamukong Suh. While he is known for his hard hits on the football field, off the field, he is doing tremendous work- let's examine his story.
The Portland football star
Ndamukong Suh was born in Portland in 1987.
He attended Grant High School in Portland, where he excelled in soccer, football, track, and basketball. His excellence across these sports saw him earn:
- Parade Magazine, high school All-America, honors in his senior year
- The 2004 Portland Interscholastic League Defensive Player of the Year
- Honorable-mention All-League honors as a junior and senior for basketball.
- A finalist for the Portland Tribune's Athlete of the Year for his feats in athletics
Suh attended the University of Nebraska, where he was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy in 2009 and also won the Lombardi Award. In 2010 he was taken with the second pick in the NFL draft by the Detroit Lions, launching his NFL career.
Suh has also focused on success off the field and has invested in real estate, hospitality, and other ventures. Along with Nike, Subway, and Chrysler endorsements, Suh has built a sizeable net worth. And he has been generous in giving some of this away.
Philanthropy
Before being drafted into the NFL, Suh made sizable donations.
In 2010, Suh donated $2 million to the athletic department at his alma mater, Nebraska University, plus another $600,000 to the school’s College of Engineering to provide scholarships. His gift is the largest single charitable contribution by any former player, and he was named the most charitable athlete in the United States.
Suh hasn't forgotten his local Portland community.
In 2013, when Grant High School had its athletics track deemed unsafe, and it was closed for school competitions, Suh stepped in. He donated $250,000 to the school’s project to get a new track and field.
"I wanted to be somebody who can shut the door... who could make sure this is fully done, because these kids deserve something great.To me, this situation was kind of sad because this is a place where I grew up. I have blood, sweat and tears on this field. I feel like this is something we should have had when I was here." Ndamukong Suh
Suh has also established the Suh Family Foundation, which "works hand-in-hand with communities to supply resources across three pillars that were pivotal to the Suh’s own success: education, health and wellness, and empowerment."
This foundation has launched several initiatives, including:
- A financial literacy-focused giveaway. Suh gave 20 fans $1000 each and a free yearlong membership to a leading investment platform so they could set themselves up for long-term success.
- During the Super Bowl in 2021, the Suh Family Foundation partnered with BAE's Fried Chicken to donate all proceeds from BAEs sales to the foundation. These funds were used to help the Portland community.
- Suh has also run courses to help bring financial literacy to Portland students.
Your thoughts
What do you think of Suh's story? What other organizations in Portland would you like to see him support?
Please leave your comments below and share this article with others so they can join the conversation.
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