Former Tampa Bay Buccaneer, Warrick Dunn, established the Homes for the Holidays Program in 1997 to reward single parents and children the American Dream first-time homeownership in Atlanta, Ga., Baton Rouge, La., Tampa and Tallahassee, Fla. He later founded The Warrick Dunn Family Foundation in 2002 as a medium to further grow programs and services for single-parent families.
Dunn came from a single-parent home himself. His mother, Betty Smothers, was a police officer who often worked late night shifts to provide for her family. Her goal was to one day reach the American Dream of home ownership. This dream was cut short, however, when Dunn’s mother was tragically gunned down in an armed robbery while off-duty. Two days after his 18th birthday, Dunn was left to care for his 5 siblings. With the help of his Baton Rouge community, Warrick Dunn was able to support his family, graduate Florida State University, and become an NFL star. This very same community provided Dunn with counseling after his mother’s death and showed him that “through her life and death, [his mother] taught [him] how to give of [himself] to those in need.”
As of today, The Warrick Dunn Family Foundation has provided over 100 homes to families and continues to give back to the community. Through partnerships with companies like Aaron’s, AirTran, Atlanta Habitat for Humanity, and more, single-parent families can live the dream that Ms. Betty Smothers wanted for her own family, and her legacy continues to live on through her son.
For more information on how you can give back to The Warrick Dunn Family Foundation, please visit http://www.warrickdunnfoundation.org
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Do you offer housing to single family women in the pacific Northwest, there is someone in immediate need. Thank you, Thank you.