By Lisa Zimmerman | Engagement Insider
Anquan Boldin is best-known as a prolific NFL wide receiver. He currently has 11,344 career receiving yards, which puts him among the top 30 receivers in NFL history. However, as remarkable as his on-field achievements have been, first with the Arizona Cardinals, then the Baltimore Ravens and now with the San Francisco 49ers, his work with The Anquan Boldin Foundation may be even more noteworthy.
The foundation’s mission is focused on “expanding the educational and life opportunities for underprivileged children.” For the last 10 years, Boldin has done just that and he has a special understanding of the challenges of the children he is assisting.
Growing up in Pahokee, Florida, on the shores of Lake Okeechobee, Anquan Boldin was a member of a very tight-knit family and his parents expected a lot from Anquan, the third of their four children and his three siblings, which included his sister (the oldest), older brother and younger brother. The family often struggled, sometimes not knowing if they were going to have things as basic as food or electricity.
The importance of hard work was instilled in the Boldin children from a very young age, especially by their father, who Boldin said all four children referred to as a “drill sergeant.”
In fact, Carl Boldin had a unique way of making sure his offspring were always challenged and were one step ahead in school.
“I had to do my older brother’s homework,” Boldin recalled. “He had to do my older sister’s homework and she had to do homework that was made up.”
As a child, it was frustrating. However, as an adult Boldin soon saw the wisdom of his father’s ways and now uses some of it when parenting his own two sons, ages ten and four.
“As kids you see friends who get away with a lot more,” he said. “They don’t have that giant figure standing over them. As an adult you can appreciate it and those are some of the things you model when raising your kids.”
As a husband and father, Boldin decided that he wasn’t going to just be an example and support for his own children, but to as many others as he could help and that was the start of the The Anquan Boldin Foundation, also known as Q81.
Now in its 10th year, the foundation has helped countless children in myriad ways. And Boldin’s commitment to his foundation is equal to, or exceeds, his commitment to his own career.
One of the foundation’s programs is to provide college scholarships and the impact and success has been significant. Boldin related a story about a young man who had dropped out of high school in the ninth grade. A few years later, he came across the Boldin foundation and told them he wanted to continue with school. He got his GED and earned a college scholarship from the foundation. That young man is now a teacher.
The foundation also supports an eight-week academic summer program in Pahokee, which is targeted toward high school students who have fallen behind in their school work. The program also provides speakers and field trips to expose the teens to other ideas and highlight opportunities that exist for them if they make the right choices.
Another service the foundation offers is a dental program in the Phoenix, Arizona area. In 2008, when Boldin was playing for the Arizona Cardinals, he sustained an injury to his face after a severe collision during a game. He required facial surgery and that experience made him realize how many others with similar needs were out there, but who couldn’t afford this type of care.
There are also numerous programs, which the foundation provides throughout the year including providing meals and gifts at the various holidays, and items that children need for school – everything from pens and notebooks to electronic equipment.
After all these years, the tight-knit Boldin family support is still there and they have all embraced their own various roles with Q81.
“My wife (Dionne) is involved,” Boldin said. “My father is involved. My uncle is involved. And the great thing about it is all of them do it because they want to, No one is paid. We are family. Some things we agree on, some we don’t. We do what’s in the best interest of the foundation. We raise questions and we take votes.”
Boldin knows football retirement is in sight, but he also knows that will only provide him with even more time to put into his foundation and community work.
“I’ve outplayed my NFL career already,” Boldin said. “The life expectancy there is three years. I’ve done that four times over. But the effect you have on people’s lives can last forever.”
Through Anquan Boldin’s efforts, children who might otherwise have limited opportunities are discovering that they have very bright futures.
For more information about The Anquan Boldin Foundation: www.q81.org