Travon Walker’s Foundation Ensures His Year 2 Impact Will Come on and off the Field
If Jacksonville Jaguars outside linebacker Travon Walker ever wondered what kind of legacy he left behind in his hometown of Thomaston, Ga., the question has been answered emphatically.
While having his No. 44 jersey retired by Upson-Lee Highschool during halftime of the Upson-Lee vs. Westside spring game last week, Walker was able to look up in the stands and see thousands of familiar faces.
Faces that saw him grow from a young football player into a big-name recruit. Faces that saw him go from serving as a key piece for the University of Georgia's national championship run to becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Faces that helped Walker become the man and player he is today.
As a result of the help his hometown and others gave Walker throughout his formational years, he is in a place all football players hope to be. He is a cornerstone of a young, up-and-coming NFL franchise.
But that isn't his legacy. Not all of it, at least. A big chunk of Walker's legacy will come off the field, via the Travon Walker Foundation.
The foundation’s #blessup44 campaign, named for Walker’s number, will donate $4,400 44 times a year to organizations that align with its mission, vision, and core values of loyalty, commitment, discipline, leadership, consistency, and structure.
As those closest to Walker pointed out, this is a way for Walker to give back to the community that raised him, while also helping the next generation follow in his footsteps.
“The Travon Walker Foundation is blessed to be able to give back to the community that helped raise Travon,” commented Travon’s sister and the Executive Director of the Travon Walker Foundation, Charmaine Walker. “They say it takes a village to raise a child, and with the foundation, Travon is excited to be a part of that village and to help kids achieve their dreams by identifying, planning for, and actively pursuing their diverse passions.”
“At the NFL Players Association, our work is focused on supporting the holistic well-being of players. To see one of our newest members turn around and do the same for his community is deeply inspiring. With Travon’s passion, commitment, and drive, I have no doubt that The Travon Walker Foundation will be a powerful force for good for years to come,” said Dana Hammonds Shuler, Senior Director of Player Affairs at the NFL Players Association.
Much more than a great player, Travon is a loyal, hardworking, and disciplined team player. By sharing his values with the young people coming up behind him, he’ll make an immeasurable impact here in Thomaston and beyond," Justin Elder, Head Football Coach at Upson-Lee High School said.
For Walker, this meant waves of teal No. 44 jerseys among the crowd at his jersey retirement. Young children who dream of growing up to be football layers are dreaming of being the next Travon Walker, donning his teal No. 44 in Jacksonville. As Walker said, it is still surreal to see just how many look up to him.
"My foundation I feel like it's going to go a long way just for the simple fact that was something that I always wanted to do, which was to give back to my community if I was ever fortunate enough to do so. And plus just allow young kids to have more opportunity than I had growing up just besides sports," Walker told Jaguar Report this week.
"I do definitely like to think I'm always representing first my family and definitely my city as well. Like I said, they have always been there for me and everybody tries to pour in whatever they can."
Walker is going to be a key fixture for the Jaguars' defense this season. But his impact in his hometown and beyond is now guaranteed to go far beyond the 2023 NFL season.
"It really means a lot to me for the simple fact that they've been behind me the whole way from recreation all the way to now and just for them all to still be in my corner and still try to pour in just a little something, it's something that to me, even though I'm older, it really means a lot," Walker said.
