Category: Making A Difference

Former 49ers Star Aldon Smith Dies at 36 After Spending Final Day Giving Back

Brandon King

The football world is mourning the loss of former NFL pass-rushing standout Aldon Smith, who died at the age of 36. According to reports, Smith spent part of the final day of his life delivering pizzas to a local homeless charity, helping those in need just hours before tragedy struck. Later that day, Smith was found unresponsive inside a vehicle and was pronounced dead after being transported to a local hospital. Authorities have not yet released an official cause of death, which remains under investigation. Smith was one of the…

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Making A Difference: Jalen Brunson Pays Tribute to Young Fan Following Heartfelt Make-A-Wish Connection

Brandon King

Basketball took a backseat for a moment Wednesday night as New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson shared an emotional tribute to a young fan who recently passed away. Before taking questions from the media, Brunson asked to address a personal matter that had been weighing heavily on his heart. “Real quick, before we get started,” Brunson began. “Just want to say, my thoughts and prayers are with a friend of mine I got to meet and talk to last week.” The friend Brunson referenced was Jonathan, a young fan from…

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Making a Difference: Taylor Rooks makes life-changing impact, clears over $2 million in medical debt for hometown families

Brandon King

In an era where some athletes and media personalities are increasingly using their platforms for social impact, Taylor Rooks has delivered a powerful example of giving back. The acclaimed sports broadcaster and host reportedly helped erase more than $2.1 million in medical debt for 1,805 families in Gwinnett County, Georgia — the community she proudly calls home. The debt relief effort was carried out through the Taylor Rooks Foundation in partnership with the nonprofit organization Undue Medical Debt. According to the organization, the debt was purchased for pennies on the…

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Making a Difference: Albany State Football reads with students at Radium Springs Elementary

Staff

image via Albany State University Courtesy of Albany State Athletics Coaches, administrators, and members of the Albany State University football team spent the morning of Friday, March 6, giving back to the community by participating in Read Across America Day at Radium Springs Elementary School. From 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., Golden Rams student-athletes and staff visited classrooms throughout the school, reading with students and emphasizing the importance of literacy, education, and positive role models. The visit provided an opportunity for young learners to engage with ASU student-athletes while reinforcing the…

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Making a Difference: MEAC announces 2026 winners of Read with MEac Literacy Initiative

Staff

Image via the MEAC Courtesy of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), in collaboration with the Norfolk, Norfolk Public Schools (NPS), and corporate partners TowneBank and Dominion Energy, proudly announces the winners of the 18th Annual Read with MEac elementary and middle school reading contest. Founded by the MEAC’s Senior Woman Administrators (SWA), Read with MEac was created to promote a love of reading and strengthen literacy achievement among local students. From October through February 2026, students’ reading progress was monitored through the NPS Growth Assessment Program, encouraging consistent engagement and…

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Making A Difference: Vanessa Bryant and Mamba Foundation gives Kobes to LA fire victims 

Brandon King

The wildfires that have raged in Los Angeles have displaced so many and caused damages that could soar into the billions of dollars. Vanessa Bryant and the Mamba Foundation are pitching in to help those who were victims of the wildfires by providing them with free Kobes.  Over 8,000 pieces of footwear and apparel were given out to those in need at L.A. Dodgers hosted LA Strong Essential Distribution, which was held at Dodger Stadium on Friday.  Much respect is due to both Vanessa Bryant and the Mamba Foundation for…

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Making A Difference: MEAC announces Read with MEac program

Staff

The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) has once again partnered with the City of Norfolk, TowneBank and Norfolk Public Schools for the annual Read with MEac community reading program. The Read with MEac program, now in its 17th year, was created by the MEAC’s Senior Woman Administrators (SWA) to promote the love of reading. Read with MEac encourages Norfolk Public School elementary and middle school students to read and participate in activities through the Star Data Reading online program. “We are proud to partner once again with Norfolk Public Schools, the…

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Makng a difference: Flavor Flav helps Olympian

Brandon King

On our youtube channel, we highlighted a union no one saw coming- that of the U.S. Women’s Polo Team and Flavor Flav, with the rapper becoming a sponsor and hype man for the team.  However the women of the polo team are not theonly national level that he is impacting.  Veronica Fraley is champion discuss thrower who secured her spot for the Paris Olympics by way of her third place finish at the U.S. Trials in Eugene, Oregon in late June. However as she entered the biggest competition of her…

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Making A Difference: Members of Bowie State Football give back during time of Thanks

Staff

Courtesy of Bowie State Athletics BOWIE, MD — Just days before Thanksgiving, Miles Griswoldand Ke’Yon Torain of the Bowie State football team volunteered with the Bowie State University Nutrition Lounge by supporting the Washington Commanders Harvest Feast at FedEx Field. The partnership was through the Bowie State Nutrition Lounge and Cigna Healthcare.  Both Griswold and Torain volunteered by helping hand out out meals at FedEx Field which was apart of FedEx, the Washington Commanders, and Cigna Healthcare’s generous donation of 25 Thanksgiving meals to the BSU community. The initiative was to help Prince George’s residents who need meals…

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Making a Difference: Kyrie Irving donates $40,000 to black family fighting to keep their land

Brandon King

The history of the United States has revealed to us that whenever Foundational Black Americans generate their prosperity, free of interference from anyone, or just have something of their own, the dominant society has consistently displayed a pathological need to either destroy it or take it for themselves. The case of Josephine Wright and her family falls into the latter. The Wright family has owned their parcel of land on Jonesville Road in Hilton Head, SOuth Carolina since shortly after the Civil War. However this family’s llong history of land…

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