Jeffery Simmons Foundation Aims To Help Kids

Jeffery Simmons new foundation, Give Em A Reason, aims to help kids who are in a similar situation as the one he grew up in.

NASHVILLE - Wednesday was all about Jeffery Simmons as the Tennessee Titans officially announced the new contract extension between the team and their star defensive tackle.

Simmons used his time speaking with the media to touch on his childhood, his mother raising five children alone, their struggles as a family, and his desire to become even more involved in the community, including his new foundation aimed at helping kids.   

Simmons Give Em A Reason Foundation is aimed at "inspiring youth and youth empowerment through sport, by way of self-esteem building and opportunity creation."

When Simmons was asked about his efforts to help the youth on Wednesday, his face lit up.

"I'm excited. My first event last year around Christmas time, I think, when we talk about off the field, you know, I came from a small town, and I know a lot of these kids don't have hope," said Simmons. "There's someone in that seat right now looking for hope, and that 'why,' so I think when you have a foundation like that, especially mine, called Give Em A Reason, it's to inspire youth and create opportunities for all youth."

"Each and every that's my goal. If I see a young kid, I never turn a kid down for a picture because they look up to us, and we set examples by giving back to our community, continued Simmons. "We need to let these kids know they can be here, no matter if they want to be a lawyer, or whatever it may be, you know, whatever. Never give up on your dreams.              

As for a reason behind his newest efforts, Simmons shared this. 

"I came up with Give Em A Reason because when we were growing up as a kid, we always wanted a handout, and it was like, why not, why we can't do, why we can't get this, and when I went back to my high school, I told those kids, give these coaches a reason to give you an offer (college scholarship). So it's the same way on this level, added Simmons. "Give these coaches a reason to put you on the field. That's the reason I came up with that name, and like I said, now I hope it will take off."

"I want to be more in the community here in Nashville. A lot of my community work has been in Mississippi, in sponsoring and naming the field house at my old high school and having all my camps in Mississippi. So I want this to grow, and I want to bring a lot more activities and things to Nashville," concluded Simmons.             

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