Truth be told, I’ve never met Mike Evans. So how do I know of him? One, I follow professional football closely. Secondly, Mike is represented by Geoffrey and Mitchell’s former agent Deryk Gilmore.
If one simply assessed Mike based on his football accomplishments, he would jump off the page. A seventh overall pick by the Tampa Bay Buccanners in 2004, Mike holds the distinction of having amassed more than 1,000 yards in every season of his career. He’s been selected to four Pro Bowls. He’s won a Super Bowl. Some resume, huh?
But to me, what he’s done off the field far surpasses his on-field football accomplishments. No wonder he’s been a 4-time NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year (honoring a player’s commitment to philanthropy and community impact, as well as his excellence on the field) nominee. Let’s take a closer look.
Real life pain can act as a catalyst for future growth and transformation. Simply look at Mike. Mike became fatherless at nine years old, his father murdered by his mother’s brother. His uncle was irate over the domestic abuse his sister received at the hands of Mike’s father.
Mike’s firsthand experienced domestic violence led to him and his wife Ashli committed to helping others similarly impacted. Having both a platform and the financial wherewithal, Mike and Ashli established the Mike Evans Family Foundation (MEFF) in 2017 with a stated Mission of “empowering youth, encouraging education and standing against domestic abuse.” While I understand Mike tries to steer clear of the attention he deserves, what he’s done through his Foundation is nothing sort of extraordinary.
To list all that he’s achieved would consume more space than what I’ve allotted for this article, so let me stick with the highlights.
Tying Mike’s on-field performance to his off-field generosity, Catch for Kids was kicked off during the 2020/2021 postseason. Based on receiving yards and touchdowns, Mike has donated almost 6,000 essential items to local Tampa Bay organizations to meet his mission of improving the lives of families and their children impacted by domestic violence.
The holiday season is one of the happiest times of the year for the Evans’ family. Probably so for many. Through Mike’s Annual Catch for Christmas he brings the same “unforgettable holiday experiences“ to kids in the Tampa Bay community through holiday parties, door-to-door gift giving and shopping sprees.
There are so many of our youth for whom college attendance is a pipe dream. Mike was one of the fortunate, attending and playing at Texas A&M University. Wanting to provide hard-working, resilient students from across the country with an opportunity to reach for the stars, the MEFF Annual Scholarship Program awards scholarships to deserving youths who otherwise might not have the opportunity to attend college and better their lot in life.
While Mike gives graciously to support all that he does for his community, his Annual Golf Tournament and Celebrity Gala provides additional funding. One year alone the tournament and gala resulted in raising over $550,000 to help fund all of the programs that his Foundation supports.
I suspect by now you get my drift. This is a story of how one person has so positively impacted thousands of others. Mike was obviously raised right by his mother. He blended the lessons he learned growing up with his faith, athleticism and good fortune to be a shining example of how athletes can make a difference, having committed to make “no excuses . . . to make something positive out of” his experiences.
Mike is but one of many professional athletes who have made a conscious decision to better the world we live in. It’s time to sound the trumpets for these people. Stay tuned for the second in the series of Ballers with Big Hearts.
(If you have any suggestions for those deserving recognition, please hit me up at lee@raisinggiantsbook.com.)