Photo Cred: Green Bay Packers/Evan Siegle
By Mark Eckel, Player Engagement Insider
Tight end Jared Cook’s list of what he’s done in the community nearly tops his list of accomplishments on the football field, and that’s saying something.
Cook, in his first year with the Green Bay Packers, after seven years with both the then-St. Louis Rams and Tennessee Titans, believes in paying it forward. It’s not that he feels he owes anyone, he just wants to help others less fortunate and has been doing just that for years.
“It’s not that I think I have a greater forum, because any human being can do great things,’’ Cook said. “Does it help? Sure. But anyone who is passionate about something, they can turn something negative into something positive. Anyone with a voice can do something powerful.
“It’s important for people everywhere to use their platform for the greater good. Helping people grow and learn and become better people through the situations they endure.’’
Cook, from his days at the University of South Carolina has helped people less fortunate. He’s been involved with the Komen Race for the Cure, Motion for Kids Holiday Party, KidSmart, and the All-Community Ticket Program. While he was in St. Louis he provided Thanksgiving Day meals for children at Gene Slay’s Girls and Boys Club.
The weekend of November 18-20, he once again hosted the Jared Cook Tip-Off Classic at his high school, North Gwinnett High in Georgia. The tournament raises money for breast cancer awareness and the Susan G. Komen foundation.
Breast cancer awareness became one of Cook’s priorities when his mother, Yulinda, was diagnosed with the disease his junior year of college.
“How I found out, one of my friends called me and said ‘Sorry to hear about your mom.’ I said, ‘My mom?’ I asked, ‘What’s going on?’ She said, ‘You better call your family.’
“I called and couldn’t get anyone. Then about 35, 40 minutes later, I got a call from my dad. My mom had just gotten out of surgery when he finally called. They didn’t want me to know, because they knew I would have come home from school to be with her. And they didn’t want me to do that.’’
Yulinda Cook is a survivor after rounds of chemotherapy and radiation has her in remission eight years later. Cook decided to put his efforts into helping others beat the disease.
“When I was in high school we had the tournament, it was sponsored by Gatorade, I believe,’’ Cook said.
When the sponsorship ended, Cook and his old high school basketball coach, Len Garner, put it back together with the tight end’s name on it and it’s grown and gotten better year after year.
“This year we have 18 teams, and half of those teams are ranked in the top 10 of their state,’’ Cook said.
The basketball tournament raises money to raise awareness and help with The Cure.
“Any way I can help to make people aware, to help women understand, learn about early detection, just spreading the word,’’ Cook said. “It’s become popular around the NFL now, and I think it’s really important that we get involved.’’
Cook’s father, Carl, was a deacon in the church before Cook was born and both of his parents instilled in him to do the right thing. He’s carried out that message through his All-SEC college career and his eight years in the NFL.
“I grew up in the church, so I learned it’s always important to help those who are less fortunate than you and those who endure hard times, because you never know how they got to that situation,’’ he said. “My wife (Lana) and I, we’ve always done that. Help families, help kids with things they might need. There’re so many different things you can do to help people, especially being in my situation, being a football player. I’m blessed to be on the other end. So, since I’ve been blessed, I feel it’s just right that I bless others and just pass it on.’’