All smiles

Sanders gives those less fortunate a happy face

By Jeff Agrest, Associate editor
As published in print July 24, 2000

Titans WR Chris Sanders

Chris Sanders was never homeless, but he has a pretty good idea of how it must feel.

"When I was in the 10th grade, we lost our home," said Sanders, whose family was forced to move into a small apartment. "I kind of know how it feels to lose a home, to get evicted from your home."

The Titans’ wide receiver has made it his mission to help homeless and hungry families in the Nashville, Tenn., area. Through the Sanders Foundation, Sanders has helped line up housing for many families who otherwise would be without it.

Those efforts made Sanders the second recipient of the Pro Football Weekly Arthur S. Arkush Humanitarian Award. The award recognizes an NFL player whose contributions to the community and charitable causes are both outstanding and hands-on.

"I get to go to Disney World, right?" Sanders said jokingly. "It’s a really good feeling in that it shows that you’re good at doing something. I really love helping people, and I really love serving people and I think that has shown."

Sanders started the program two years ago. Families that apply for assistance and are approved receive help in finding housing. They also receive about $1,000 to help pay utilities, a security deposit and the first month’s rent. Sanders’ goal is to help 100 families this year.

"It was really just in my heart to help the homeless," Sanders said. "I think it’s more of a blessing for me to move the families in than the families actually moving in because I’m more tickled to move them in."

The foundation also helps the needy by providing food and clothing for people in homeless shelters and buying Christmas presents to spread holiday cheer. Sanders often delivers the supplies himself and helps prepare food at the shelters.

"I’m like a kid in a candy store, because it’s so rewarding when you actually get to see people smile," Sanders said. "There’s nothing like it, and I’m not just saying that to get a good quote. If you see these people smile, and they hug you and say, ‘Thank you,’ that’s what it’s all about."

Last year the foundation raised more than $40,000 and provided almost 10,000 articles of clothing. This year’s goal is to raise $100,000.

What follows are synopses of the charitable work done by the four other finalists for the Pro Football Weekly Arthur S. Arkush Humanitarian Award.

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Brooks led a group of 25 children, called "Brooks Bunch," on a 12-day tour of South Africa. Since last October, the children, members of Tampa, Fla., and Orlando, Fla., area Boys and Girls Clubs, studied African culture and history during bimonthly workshops. To be eligible for the trip, students had to write essays and fulfill various research assignments about Africa.

Buccaneers head coach Tony Dungy and his wife, Lauren, were two of the adult chaperones on the trip. Both were wowed by the experience.

"We’ve seen so many places of historical significance, so much natural beauty," Dungy said from the road. "This trip has been everything I thought it would be and more."

While in South Africa, students visited Robben Island, the prison where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated; Soweto township; Pretoria; and a safari camp. The students also took part in a community-service project with African students.

In past years, Brooks sponsored and led educational trips to Washington, D.C., and Atlanta.

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Alexander’s efforts focus on the Solace House, a non-profit center created to help Kansas City children and families cope with the death of someone they love. Alexander, who had one brother die in a car accident and another of lung failure, attended support groups at the Solace House throughout the 1999 offseason. He also called the House every Tuesday during the season to answer football and personal questions.

Alexander provided 10 tickets to each Chiefs home game for Solace House children and their families. He also set up a program in which companies donate money to the House for every catch he makes.

Alexander worked with the children of the Solace House to develop a signal to use in his TD celebrations. He puts his hands over his head in the shape of a roof as a message to the program’s children.

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Washington has charitable programs going on year-round, but he especially gears up for the holiday season. In December, Washington bought 1,000 pairs of shoes for children from Buffalo-area schools. The children were chosen by school principals based on good attendance, behavior and academic performance.

Washington also signed autographs and posed for pictures at a toy store to raise money for gifts for children who live in inner-city housing projects. At the end of the night, he matched the donations. Washington buys 30 tickets for every Bills home game for Ted’s Troops, a group of children involved with Junior Achievement. In addition, he created a foundation to raise money for a variety of youth-oriented charities.

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Bryant’s 90 Ways Foundation focuses many of its efforts on helping burn foundations in the San Francisco area and in Lincoln, Neb. The foundation helps fund fire-prevention efforts, clinical research for burn medical staffs and programs assisting burn survivors.

Bryant, who suffered burns to more than 40 percent of his body when he was 15, annually visits the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation’s Camp Champ, a free camp for young burn survivors. Bryant spends a few days at the camp playing with the children and discussing his own story and recovery. He also visits burn victims in Bay Area hospitals.

Among Bryant’s other efforts is providing financial assistance for college-bound students in the Omaha, Neb., area.

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Also see: Ron Pollack's column on Chris Sanders

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