Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee has donated $5,000 each to Think Watts and Communities in Schools Los Angeles (CISLA) to provide support for students struggling with food insecurity and a lack of technological equipment for school.
Although the Los Angeles Rams have more than enough resources to take precautions for their own safety during the 2020 NFL season, the same cannot be said for the nearby communities directly impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This has spurred Higbee to make extra efforts to ensure that he is doing his part to help.
Higbee was rewarded with a four-year, $31 million contract extension from the Rams last year. He recently spoke on his decision to put it to good use, via the team’s official website:
“It’s a tough time for a lot of people right now and I’m just trying to help out in any way I can,” said Higbee. “I understand that I’m extremely blessed to be in the position I’m in and it would be selfish for me not to help out.”
Rapper/producer and Watts native STIX spoke on what Higbee’s donation will help provide:
“This donation will help us continue our efforts with the food restoration project and our resource hub that focuses on financial literacy, entrepreneurship development and job training. The space will even offer resources so our children can create their own clothes and learn about digital design and coding, which can be pathways to careers with companies like Google,” said STIX. “It’s definitely going to help tremendously.”
The restrictions placed in response to the ongoing pandemic have offered up its own set of challenges for under-resourced communities that will be relying on virtual classrooms for school in the fall. Aside from the basic fundamental needs to keep their education going, the donation will also assist in other programs to provide a wider range of study.
The Rams have put the onus on themselves to stay active with their philanthropic efforts ever since the relocation. Having the assistance of a budding star like Higbee is clearly paying huge dividends both on and off the field.
After all, the former fourth-round pick is coming off a stellar 2019 campaign that saw him register 522 yards and two touchdowns over the final five games of the season. He is now looking to prove that it was no fluke now that Los Angeles will be relying heavily on him as a major part of the offense.
