Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Travon Walker has always been thankful for the life he had growing up and the support he had from both his family and residents that make up the small town of Thomaston, Georgia.
He credits his hometown for helping raise him make him who he is today, both as a football player and a person, and when he was thinking about starting the Travon Walker Foundation after his rookie season in the NFL, he knew he wanted children to be the focus of the organization.
“The main thing growing up in a small community is that I know how it takes a village of support,” Walker said. “I knew I wanted to give back that support that I got to the kids now.”
The goal of the non-profit organization is to provide environments for children to identify their strengths and their passions and direct them toward that through encouragement and support.
Although starting a foundation had been something he had tossed around in his mind for a while, he made it official following his rookie season with the Jacksonville Jaguars and he is proud of what his foundation has been able to do in slightly more than a year.
According to Walker, using his status as a professional football player is something that he is fully aware of and understands that it is a powerful platform that he can use to truly make a difference.
“Where I come from there just aren’t too many people that make it big and have the tools to give back like this,” Walker said.
The Travon Walker Foundation has held several events in Walker’s hometown and in Georgia, including offering free football camps and doing back to school and Thanksgiving drives to make sure children and families have the materials and foods they need.
A free youth football camp is scheduled for June 15 in Thomaston, Georgia with the goal of providing hands-on instruction in a positive and leadership-filled environment.
“It’s the small things that can take some of the stress away for people and mean everything,” Walker said.
He also has an eye on the foundation’s future which includes expanding with more events in Jacksonville and the Northeast Florida area to go along with the efforts in Georgia.
“To see the smiles on the faces of those the foundation helps is everything,” Walker said. “They don’t even have to say anything, you know because their expressions tell you everything. Jacksonville is the next place I want to spread this love and joy.”
According to Walker, he also sees the foundation eventually reaching the point where they venture into going beyond just children but also helping provide job aids for adults looking for work.
Just as when Walker was growing up his family continues to be by his side and supporting him in everything he does, including the foundation.
“Without my family I don’t think I could run my foundation,” Walker said. “My family and I are a collective one and we’ve come together along with our communities to give back to the places we call home.”
For those looking to get involved with the foundation can go to thetwfoundation.org.
