Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is a college football national champion. He won the Heisman Trophy as the most outstanding college football player in 2019. He is a Louisiana State University (LSU) legend and has established himself as one of the top arms in the NFL. His on-field persona and rapport with teammates Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins earned him nicknames like “Joe Sheisty,” “Joey B,” and others.
In his short career, Burrow won an AFC Championship, helped the Bengals make the Super Bowl in 2021, and was the AFC runner-up in 2022. While the Bengals have yet to bring the Lombardi Trophy back to Cincinnati, Burrow has brought something else to the area. His organization, The Joe Burrow Foundation, is helping kids in Cincinnati and Baton Rouge with free lunch, medical expenses, and education.
Burrow founded the nonprofit in October 2022 with his parents, Robin and Jimmy. Jimmy also played professional football in both the NFL and Canadian Football League. Robin is the principal of Eastern Elementary School in Reedsville, OH. Burrow wanted to give back to the communities that made his path to sports stardom.
Photo Courtesy The Joe Burrow Foundation
In only 12 months of operation, the foundation has seriously impacted the lives of youth in these cities. In the Cincinnati area, the nonprofit worked with the Center of Science and Industry (COSI) to bring elementary lunchbox learning programs to two schools in Ohio. That was in December 2022, only three months after officially launching the organization.
The nonprofit’s grant program awards funds to community service organizations in these areas. A Do Good Grant helps kids with mental health struggles and those living with food insecurity.
In August, 21 companies earned grants totaling around $594,056 committed to these issues.
The foundation started a Dine for 9 campaign aimed at ending food insecurity in Cincinnati and Baton Rouge. Two hundred and fifty restaurants participated in the initiative by donating 9% of profits made on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, to the organization. Dine for 9 also set up a program in Baton Rouge.
At the LSU spring football game this past April, Burrow’s foundation pledged more than $1 million to support local Baton Rouge nonprofits.
“It was important for me to give back to Baton Rouge and the people in that community that have been so good to me and my family,” the 26-year-old NFL star said in a press release.
One of the most notable acts of charity is the mental health treatment Robin and Jimmy have been helping with. The elder Burrow explained how the foundation covered the medical costs of 20 Cincinnati families whose children struggle with their mental health. The news broke on an episode of The Mental Game Podcast. Jimmy said the parents couldn’t afford all the expenses, so the nonprofit lent a hand.
Photo Courtesy The Joe Burrow Foundation
This year, the foundation held its inaugural golf outing at Cincinnati’s Coldstream Country Club in June, raising around $925,000. The silent auction portion of the event raised $500,000 alone.
A studded guest list participated. Celebrities like Bengals head coach Zac Taylor, ESPN college football analysts Kirk Herbstreit, Hall of Fame lineman Anthony Muñoz, and former Bengals Kenny Anderson, Jim Breech, and David Fulcher.
In his closing remarks at the outing, Burrow expressed how happy he was for everyone coming and supporting the cause. He hopes it will encourage people to donate their time to volunteering or other charity work. The money raised will help many children in Ohio and Louisiana. Even though it is still early days for his charity, they have already helped many people.
Hopefully, Burrow and the Bengals’ fortunes improve after a tough start to the 2023 NFL season.
