Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott helping shine light on local charity in Dallas: ‘It gives faith and hope to the kids’
Ezekiel Elliott will not only dominate the field in 2021. The two-time NFL rushing champion is also making the right noise through his work in the local community. While the Dallas Cowboys are enjoying a six-game winning streak in large part due to Elliott’s resurgence, he has also taken the time to be present in one of the more difficult communities in the Dallas-Forth Worth area – a neighborhood known as Oak Cliff is known.
Located in southwest downtown Dallas, Oak Cliff’s problems are those of many other low-income urban areas, and that led to the creation of For Oak Cliff, a nonprofit founded by two former teachers: Xavier Henderson and Taylor Toynes . The charity works hard to provide all kinds of services to the community, including food promotions, GED classes, neighborhood park improvement, and camps for local children.
And now Elliott is helping her cause, and not with preset press assignments, but with regular visits that have long been under the radar.
“They told me a little bit about the organization and I thought, ‘Man, this really reminds me of home,'” Elliott said on WFAA Channel 8. Time and do my part. “
Henderson values all of this more than Elliott knows.
“I think he’s not doing it for the press says a lot about his intentions,” he said of the all-pro half-back. “He means well. He really sees the power of his platform and influence. … We love him.”
Elliott’s help with “For Oak Cliff” caught attention on an episode of HBO’s “Hard Knocks” last August and brought the right amount of attention to what the organization is trying to build.
“I think it’s just evidence of what’s going on there,” said Elliott. “It’s a pleasure to go out there. It’s not a chore. I want to go to For Oak Cliff. I want to hang out with these kids. I want to help move the things they want to do for their community. … It only gives the children faith and hope that one day you can make it too. “
Elliott is no stranger to philanthropy, one of his more prominent acts stemming from his work with The Salvation Army made headlines when he jumped to the Big Red Kettle after a touchdown in 2016, resulting in a fine from the NFL and Elliott He responded to the fine by raising millions for the organization – and using his kettle shop as an opportunity to raise awareness. There’s no kettle this time around, and no bright lights and cameras, but that doesn’t make this work any less meaningful.
For more information on For Oak Cliff and how to donate, please click here.
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