Saquon Barkley: Why Charity Matters

11/30/2023

It's often said that football is just a game, and in some ways it is true. Often, players hold what happens from around and outside of the game to being just as important to on-field results. Even someone as dominant as Giants running back Saquon Barkley has his ideas of that very concept. Barkley achieved top status at whatever level he played and has continued producing in the NFL. He understands the power of his name but says, "You're only going to be Saquon Barkley for so long." But instead of dreading the end, Barkley looks to set up a future that he can be proud of, "Everybody has their day when the game is taken away from you. You're not that fast anymore; you're not that strong; you're not that explosive, and there will be a new wave of players that will come around and will have a name. But it's the impact you make in the community. That's what lasts. That's what's going to go a long way, not how many touchdowns I score."

Barkley's mother, Tonya Johnson, doesn't believe in simply "writing a check," she declared, "I think you should participate in everything. You experience everybody else's experiences." These ideas seemed to have rubbed off on Saquon Barkley as he deviated from the traditional charity procedures. Barkley partners with Covenant House and Children of Promise at every Giant's home game. Covenant House aids young adults experiencing homelessness, and Children of Promise supports children with incarcerated parents. Barkley brings out three adults and three children from their respective organizations, along with chaperones, to receive a unique New York Giants experience. They get to walk through the tunnel, interact with Saquon pre and post-game, and watch from a private booth in the front rows. Saquon describes the initiative as truly "authentic" and uses it as a chance to inspire youth. During these visits, he provides his advice and speaks to them about how "no dream is too unrealistic if you want it." 

He was attracted to Covenant house because of his own experience with childhood homelessness. He recalled having to "bounce around" houses after being evicted. His connection to Children of Promise is also somewhat related to his personal experience, but he more so credits his philanthropic wishes, "My dad's been to jail, but it didn't affect me growing up," Barkley said. "It was more just how I feel about kids, and it was something we could do with kids."

Barkley also lives up to the proactive and involved charitable spirit that his mother speaks of. Last year, his charity, the Michael Ann and Saquon Barkley Hope Foundation, partnered with Campbell's Chunky Soup to distribute 200,000 bowls of soup at Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. Saquon Barkley himself was involved in the packaging and distribution of the food. Further exhibiting his unique and creative approach to service, he gave out a superbowl ticket to an individual at the food bank. He also is involved in the charity's annual thanksgiving food drive, held in his mother's hometown of Bronx NY.

What sets Saquon Barkley apart from most other charitable figures is his expression of his introspective and deep thoughts on service. Like his mother said, most NFL players simply write large checks. Barkley however not only hosts unique opportunities such as the Giants experience but bothers to explain his thoughts behind why he does what he does. In one of Barkley’s worst games of his career in a loss to the Jets in 2019, “I had one rushing yard; I let up two sacks,... I banged up my shoulder that game, I had a hurt ankle already going into that game. That probably was the toughest one.” But he used this lowlight as an opportunity to reflect on the nature of football, “I get so locked in and so focused in a game — which is important to who I am and my makeup and as a competitor — but it also brings you back to reality… “It’s like, ‘That’s not the only thing that really matters.’ It shows me that there’s so much stuff that no matter what just happened, I’m highly blessed. So I use the gift that God gave me and the position that God gave me to make change.” Barkley is able to see past the superficial ups and downs of football to instead stay on his conscious path of positively impacting others. 

Many football players struggle to find identity beyond their sport and fall into pits of despair over the superficial aspects of the game. Saquon Barkley utilizes football as a tool to impact others, instead of obsessing over vanity and himself. By knowing it will end, he acts to squeeze as much positive impact out of his platform as he can.

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Works Cited

Duggan, Dan. "For Saquon Barkley, football is temporary: 'The impact you make in the community is what lasts.'" NYTimes.com, 27 Nov. 2023, www.nytimes.com/athletic/5091752/2023/11/27/saquon-barkley-new-york-giants-charity/.

Thompson, Jaylon. "Daily Sports Smile: Saquon Barkley helps donate 200,000 bowls of soup to Los Angeles Regional Food Bank." USA Today.com, 12 Feb. 2022, www.usatoday.com/story/nfl/2022/02/12/saquon-barkley-helps-donate-local-los-angeles-food-bank/6757591001/.