Green Bay Packers legend LeRoy Butler tackles student hunger at 'Taste of the Draft'
This week, Touchdown Wire's Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Pro Football Hall of Famer and Green Bay Packers legend LeRoy Butler about his involvement in Taste of the Draft and youth mentorship in Wisconsin.
Fellow Packers greats will join Butler on Wednesday, April 23rd, from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM CT at Schreiber Food Headquarters, 400 N. Washington Street, Green Bay, Wisconsin. The event will feature musical entertainment, a sleight-of-hand magician, a silent auction, and appearances by Miss America and Miss Wisconsin.
"I'm one of those kids who rely upon strangers to raise money so I can have an amazing meal. Sometimes, when you're in extreme poverty, as I grew up, a school meal is probably your best one," said Butler as the event proceeds to support GENYOUth's commitment to end student hunger and tackle youth food insecurity in Wisconsin. "So, events like this give me hope that kids will one day grow up to be just like me. However, you're in poverty, and you can't afford some of the other food people have, but having an event like this, where two things can be true: you can raise money for a great organization and do some of the great things, and you help people who you don't know that's what's so rewarding. Again, a kid like me—my mom raised five kids by herself—didn't eat breakfast, didn't have breakfast at home, which other kids did, but when we got to school, they had programs like this to go to the cafeteria and eat breakfast."
Top chefs, twenty legendary supper clubs, and Green Bay icons will raise funds for nutrition grants for 90 schools throughout Wisconsin to celebrate the NFL Draft's 90th anniversary.
"A lot of kids don't even eat breakfast. I couldn't afford it, but the other kids who had money could buy hot stuff, like corn dogs or pizza," said Butler, "But for me, it didn't matter because nutrition is essential. So I am overjoyed now; it reminded me of my hero, my mom, when she used to tell us going to school, we don't have time to get in trouble and break the law because you're wasting time because some stranger is donating money to the food pantry or an event like 'Taste of the Draft.'"
The 2022 Pro Football Hall of Famer, who played 12 seasons with the Packers, understands the importance of giving back to the Wisconsin community and connecting with the many children who lack resources.
"It means a lot to me. I get very emotional about it, so being a part of it is almost like paying respect back to some of the young men and women who are out there all the time helping and just to let them know as well." said Butler, "Yes, you're a Hall of Famer, but I didn't think he was in poverty. I didn't know if he got a free lunch like me. I didn't think he had a single parent like me. So that's why it's very important for me."
GENYOUth will host a Rally for Student Health and Well-being at Valley View Elementary School, located at 2200 True Lane, Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin, on Tuesday, April 22nd, at 9:00 AM CT. The rally will unveil our new, state-of-the-art school meal equipment, increasing access to healthy nutrition. An NFL FLAG-In-School Kit Unboxing and Flag Football Clinic will also be held. Please visit this link to RSVP for the event.
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