The first time I saw him walking across the lobby on his way to visit his agent, I couldn’t stop thinking about how huge he was. A mammoth of a man standing at 5’7, the pounder of a running back for the Baltimore Ravens has a special foundation for kids in Baltimore. The New York native grew up on the rough side of town and made a vow to himself that if he was able to make a career out of sports that he had to give back. Rice was undersized and lightly recruited but he’s made his impact felt on opposing defenses. The one time Rutgers University running back was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens and has not slowed down in his efforts to aid the children of Baltimore City, Maryland. The running-back’s mother is a teacher herself so education has always been a focal point in Rice’s life. He does not stop at giving back and visiting local schools, but the Pro Bowl All Madden back established the Ray Rice Charitable Foundation that helps children at local hospitals and engage in community building.
Ray Rice is a sponsor of Play 60 which is an NFL program that encourages young kids to exercise daily by hosting school functions where NFL players go to random schools and play with the kids. Rice says he is a big kid so going to schools and spending an hour playing games is recreational and therapeutical to the Ravens star back. A good friend of mine told me Immanuel “great thoughts are only as good as great actions”. She explained that we can all think something but until we put effort into achieving it, it is simply a thought. Many said that Rice was too small (his 5’7″ stature is deemed as small for the NfL) and projected him as a third to fourth round pick. The same faith that elevated him is doing its own work in great action.
Rice was awarded Community Spirit Award from the New Rochelle Fund for Educational Excellence in March 2010 from his hometown of New Rochelle, New York. Rice works with kids with disabilities as well through the Ray Rice Charitable Fund which helps kids in Baltimore.
Rice’s teammates Michael Ohr, Joe Flacco, and Torrey Smith visit his charity throughout the year.
