December 3, 2019

Richard Sherman Pays Off Over $27,000 to Clear Schools’ Cafeteria Debt

According to ABC News, San Francisco 49ers’ Richard Sherman cleared the debt for some public school students.

On Nov. 23, Sherman hand-delivered a check for $7,491.27 to clear student lunch debt at Cabrillo Middle School in Santa Clara, California. “It’s the most generous thing to happen for these kids, there’s plenty in need and he didn’t neglect them, it was the perfect way to give back and help them,” Principal Stan Garber told ABC News about the 60 students that will benefit from Sherman’s contribution. “It was the kindest most generous gesture.” Cabrillo Middle School is the school closest to the 49ers’ stadium.

“The district is thankful to the Richard Sherman Family Foundation for this kind donation,” Santa Clara Unified School District officials said in a statement. “It means that many Cabrillo families will have less debt over the holiday season.”

The gesture came one day after Sherman was named the National Football League Players Association Week 11 Community MVP. According to a press release from The National Football League Players Association, Richard Sherman Family Foundation’s Blanket Coverage donated more than $20,000 to the Tacoma School District to relieve the lunch debt of students who are receiving free or reduced lunch.

Sherman and his wife, Ashley, donated items to three food banks in the Seattle and Tacoma areas after hearing that their shelves were almost empty. “When we heard the food bank was experiencing a food shortage, we knew we had to step in and do something,” Sherman said. “It has been incredible to see how our donation has sparked a big movement and has driven others to donate as well. No child should ever go hungry.”

Since launching Blanket Coverage in 2013, the organization has raised more than $1.5 million and helped more than 70,000 people in carrying out their mission of providing low-income students with school supplies and clothing so they can more adequately achieve their goals.

In seven-plus years of annual backpack, homeless care kits, and holiday giveaways, the Shermans’ foundation has:

Donated more than 15,000 backpacks, including providing 16 low-income schools and more than 2,500 students with backpacks and school supplies since the start of the 2019 school year
Provided more than 7,100 care packages to the homeless
Adopted more than 160 families during the holidays
Distributed $500 gift cards for Thanksgiving to 25 low-income families