Darrell Green, Example of Purpose

To get us thinking about “A purpose that Outlives You”, I want to look at former Washington Redskin Darrell Green as an example. 

Darrell Green’s philanthropic journey began simply as a professional athlete who volunteered his name and time to youth activities sponsored by the District of Columbia Parks and Recreation Department.  In December 1988, Green participated in a Christmas event where he interacted with underprivileged children facing what seemed like insurmountable obstacles to a fulfilling and productive live—a lack of food and clothing, a lack of educational resources, a lack of any sort of family support, and tragically, a lack of hope. 

Darrell Green said, “Driving home that night, I reflected on the situation and was moved to tears.  It dawned on me that I needed to do something more than go through the motions of charitable appearances.  The next day I called a lawyer because I had no clue what I needed to do to establish a foundation.  But from that day on, it became clear to me what I would do with my life.”

The Darrell Green Youth Life Foundation (DGYLF) believes that for children to succeed in this world, they must have a strong foundation in four areas: education, values-based development, family life, and community support. These four critical areas are the driving force behind the DGYLF in its endeavor to create opportunities for children and families living in insecure environments.

To learn about what Darrell is doing go to www.dgylf.org.

It was a process for Darrell.  He was faithful to do what he knew to do.  From this a passion for kids became his vision in life.  Finally that vision has been hammered out in forming the pieces of the mission statement, and ultimately to the specifics of the mission.  His notoriety, passion for kids, and leadership abilities have now come together into a package where he can have an impact that outlives him.

Darrell Green is leaving a legacy.  Tonight we want to look at how you and your family can leave a legacy.  The first step in leaving a legacy is to get a clear picture of what you want to leave behind.

Wouldn’t it be exciting to articulate as a family something that you would like to accomplish that will outlive you?

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