Tom Brady understands the importance of giving. On Monday, the Patriots quarterback stopped by the Tobin Community Center in Roxbury and presented a check for $30,000 to benefit Boston Centers for Youth and Families, the Boston Herald reports.
Brady teamed up with Smartwater prior to the season for the "Smartwater zero sack give back" initiative. Smartwater pledged $5,000 for each game Brady was not sacked during the season.
Brady avoided sacks in six games this season.
Youth advocate Hector Galarza was surprised and honored to see Brady.
"At first, I thought he wouldn’t be around these areas," Galarza told the Boston Herald. "I thought he’d be up in Foxboro, up in the suburbs, but he’s in the streets, he’s right here, in the ghetto, what we call the ghetto, in the poor neighborhoods, sharing his time. It really makes me think he’s a bigger person."
Brady knows firsthand the influence high-profile athletes can have on children, and the former MVP wants to help them reach their goals.
"I reflect back to when I was their age," Brady told the Herald. "I remember I met Will Clark. I loved baseball, and I met Dwight Clark one time. I still remember that today, and I still remember the feeling I had. It’s someone they see on television and the newspaper. Hopefully, they realize at some point, they can have [their dreams]. And whatever they choose to do in their life, they can aspire to whatever goals they set for themselves."
Brady enjoyed the event as he autographed Patriots memorabilia for kids and also threw passes to some of them as well. Nine-year-old Brandon Guerrero got to find out what it's like to be Randy Moss when he caught a pass from Brady.
"I felt so nervous [when he threw the ball]," Guerrero told the Herald. "Now, it feels so great. He gave me a high five, and told me I did a great job."
Guerrero and other children can aspire to catch passes from a quarterback like Brady now. Hopefully, Brady's donation will help make their other dreams come true.
