It’s a Northeast Wisconsin and Packers Tradition, the charity softball game.
Quarterback Jordan Love solely taking the reins from legend Donald Driver for the 25th anniversary edition on May 23rd at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute.
This year the charity event will benefit the quarterback’s “Hands of 10ve Foundation”, which he started last spring.
The foundation hosts football camps for kids that want to follow in Love’s footsteps from his hometown of Bakersfield, Calif. or in Wisconsin. As well as various other charitable endeavors throughout the year.
“It’s something I’ve always dreamt of, making it to the NFL, being an NFL player, having a foundation, being able to give back. That give back part is just. It’s something that just kind of comes with it. I want to be able to impact other people’s lives while I have this opportunity. What better way to do it than have pretty cool camps, getting involved with the youth. We do a lot of different things and we’re still doing it up, and figuring out what works, what doesn’t work, things like that. Anytime you can make an impact on somebody’s life, and just kind of give back in any way is pretty cool,” said Jordan Love.
Love met with the media to preview this year’s charity softball game on Wednesday, and outlined the pillars of his foundation.
First, getting kids into sports as a good foundation for future success in terms of both physical and mental health.
Also, helping to connect the police and the community. Both of Love’s parents were police officers. Including his father, who took his own life when Jordan was a teenager.
That brings in the third pillar: mental health.
Something that hits close to home for Love as he tries to be a positive influence on those who look up to the QB.
“Being an NFL quarterback, you always have a very cool platform to be able to give back and just reach some of the kids that want to be in your shoes. I think, in terms of mental health. I think it’s easy to tell kids, even being an NFL quarterback, living your dream, you still go through some mental health struggles as well. Telling them how I handle my life when I’m struggling with some mental health issues. I think just showing them, no matter who you are, no matter how glamorous your life might look on the outside everybody’s got different battles they’re fighting on the inside,” said Love.
