CHANDLER — Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt presented a $15,000 donation to the Pat Tillman Foundation on Saturday at the end of a youth football camp he hosted with wide receiver Jordyn Tyson.
The signal caller had been looking for a way to give back to a supportive community, and it going to a “super beneficial cause” only sweetened the deal.
“It’s a big thing for me and my family,” Leavitt said of the Tillman Foundation’s mission to support veterans and their families. “I got a cousin who’s a green beret and it means a lot to me.
“It’s a big time story at ASU, so to be able to do that and then give back in a situation where I’m helping kids out at the same time, it just makes me feel like a better person.”
Arizona State QB Sam Leavitt details his decision to donate $15,000 to the Pat Tillman Foundation, citing his cousin who is a green beret as well as just giving back in general. pic.twitter.com/RfojiOjSiy
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The presentation came after Leavitt and Tyson spent the morning coaching up more than 70 kids who ventured out to Chandler High to learn from the local stars.
There’s essentially no precedent for a Sun Devil player giving back to the Pat Tillman Foundation in this manner, CEO Katherine Steele told Arizona Sports.
“From one of these (young kids) that really wants to invest in the foundation and the legacy of Pat 21 years later, haven’t seen it before,” Steele said. “I’m really glad that Sam’s here kind of taking the stage for us.”
She added it’s a product of ASU coach Kenny Dillingham going out of his way to activate the Valley in the way he has.
The foundation has obvious ties to the football program with large events like Pat’s Run, but it’s also deeply embedded via the Tillman Leadership Council. Leavitt was one of 12 players on the council last season, and Tyson joined him for this fall.
“The leadership council is the first of many opportunities for us to connect,” Steele, a 2014 Tillman scholar, said. “Working on getting our Tillman scholars — nearly 1,000 veterans, active duty and military spouses — connected with the boys to have conversations about what leadership looks like.”
Sam Leavitt, Jordyn Tyson coach up the kids
This marked the second camp in a two-week span for Leavitt, with the first coming at his Oregon alma mater, West Linn High.
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He said Saturday he could see himself becoming a high school coach when his playing days are done, and he’s already learned one of the biggest pieces.
“With the little kids, I’m just trying to have fun and have them have a good time. But you know, a little older, I’ll be critiquing more and then if you know a kid wants to really get coached hard, then you know,” Leavitt said.
“You kind of just got to know your audience.”
He said questions about his NFL future and who his favorite player is were “on repeat” from the kids.
Tyson pointed out kids had questions about his favorite route.
“Post ball,” the receiver said. “I think I can run them all, but (yeah).”
Steele said she could see how excited all the kids were by the opportunity to learn from the talented duo.
“To see (Sam and Jordyn) give of their time freely because they care, it’s just a testament to goodness,” Steele said. “All of these parents out here snapping pics and stuff and the community that’s here to support it.
“We want all of our kids to grow up to be good humans, and I think, you know, the boys are a good example of what that should look like through athletics.”
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