Sunday, June 6, 2010

NFL Green Bay Packer Donald Driver's Legacy in "Giving and Recieving"

Donald Driver, wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers never gave up in pursuing his dream to play NFL Football League. His mother, Faye Gray a single mom trying to raise he and his four brothers was a struggle, a hardship. One day a collection Agency took their home and family possessions leaving him and his family homeless.

Driver recalls there were times he and his mom lived in a U-Haul trailer when she couldn't use food stamp to pay for a hotel room. She would skip meals and Donald thought of turning to a life of crime. However, his grandmother, Betty Lofton directed him toward church and his athletic ability became his focus. At Alcorn State, he made all conference athlete in football and track. While there, Donald met Tina, a criminal justice major. Donald and Tina were married in 2000 and started Donald Driver Foundation.The foundation helps families to make transition from homeless shelters to independence; gives $500-semester scholarship to students who maintain a good grade point average in Mississippi and Green Bay; helped displaced families from Hurricane Katrina and has annually covered rent and utilities of six to eight single-parent families in Houston, Mississippi and Green Bay as well.

The NFL Football Star gives his time and energy to managing a softball team, [originally managed by Brett Favre] And, former Packer George Teague started in 1994 with some teammates. Driver is the spokesman for Goodwill Industries, McDonald's AirTran, Time Warner Cable, and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation where he is featured in variety of TV and Radio commercials. Despite of his popularity with the media and talk shows, it's his charitable work for which he's best known. One of his fellow Packer play cornerback Charles adds, " I think because of Donald's unique experiences growing up, he feels compelled to do great things for others in need." Quarterback Aaron Rodgers says "Donald is a guy who really cares about making a difference in his two communities that he calls home."

Donald Driver has become a role model to many children. Packer fan Scott Lieburn oof Kiel said his kids, Austin, 14, Sierra , 12, and Colton 9, thinks that it's cool to see Donald in TV commercials telling passengers and drivers to buckle up. When they see him, they listen and watch. Driver is a devoted to his family. As a father to his 4-year old daughter Cristina [soon to be 5 June 13] and 6-year old son Cristian, he is motivated to be "the best father that he can be." His wife [Betina] says that her husband is the kind of guy who takes her out to diner in a Tux and renewing their vows on every 10th wedding annniversity. Donald Driver says that in the end, he wants people to remember him as a great father and a great husband.

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