“If you can, you must.”
1997: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Coach Tony Dungy takes all of the new rookies aside, and challenges them to think about how they can get involved in the local community. Running back Warrick Dunn hears the message loud and clear.
He thinks about his late mother, and the sacrifices she went through in pursuit of her dream to buy a home for her family; a dream that she unfortunately was not able to see come to fruition during her lifetime. This train of thought paves the path for Dunn in his quest to use his resources to give back to society.
2006: Warrick Dunn furnishes a new home for a single mother and her four children in Gainesville, Georgia. He was quoted as saying:
"We just try to help put people in safer environments and give kids an opportunity. You never know what impact you will have. You hope it's a positive impact."
One of the kids that he met at the house that day from the family of five was 11 year old Deshaun Watson, who was excited beyond belief to have his own room for the very first time.
Watson would go on to excel as the star quarterback at Gainesville High School, and then in college at Clemson -- leading his team to a national championship; ultimately getting drafted as a 1st round pick by the Houston Texans earlier this year.
2017: Deshaun Watson donates his 1st ever NFL game check to three stadium cafeteria workers in Houston whose lives were devastated by Hurricane Harvey.
And now, three Houston families will be able to start putting their lives back together, because of the chain reaction of some noble choices made by complete strangers several decades ago.
It's important to remember that the decisions we make and the impact of the way we treat other people will reverberate for decades or even centuries to come. What we put into the world determines the type of world we get to live in.
"If you can, you must."@deshaunwatson gave his first @NFL game check to help a few familiar faces. #HoustonStrong pic.twitter.com/rwcyGMSRFN
