By Lisa Zimmerman | Engagement Insider
As a high school and college football player, Wesley Woodyard received accolade upon accolade, first as a safety and then as a linebacker. As far back as he can remember, playing football was the only thing he wanted to do. He dreamed of one day playing in the NFL.
Woodyard’s mother used football to keep him on the straight and narrow. It was made very clear, that if he didn’t stay focused both at school and at home, his chance to achieve his dream would be over before it started. But, hard work led to success, first at LaGrange High School in his hometown of LaGrange, Georgia and then at the University of Kentucky. A prolific career at Kentucky resulted in the Denver Broncos signing him as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2008.
Not only did he make the team, he started six games in his rookie season and had six productive seasons in Denver before being signed as a free agent by the Tennessee Titans during the 2014 offseason.
Woodyard knew from day one that it was important for him stay connected to LaGrange and to do whatever he could to help the children growing up there. His own childhood had shown him the importance of helping others and being a productive member of the community. His mother ran a daycare and his family always threw an annual cookout for the neighborhood regardless of what their circumstances were at the time.
That idea of cooperative spirit made an impression on Woodyard at a young age and his own journey made him acutely aware of the support and direction that is so critical in helping young people envision and achieve success.
“It’s very challenging for kids to make it out of that community,” Woodyard said. “I love working with kids, they are our future. It’s not about us, it’s about them.”
Four years ago, Woodyard started the 16 Ways Foundation to help at-risk youth and teach them skills to create successful futures. One of his main focal points to make sure he impresses upon the children he works with the importance of education and how essential it is to set goals and establish a foundation to achieve those goals.
I always tell kids that an underachiever is someone who doesn’t meet their goals,” Woodyard said. “I wasn’t going to take any chances. I made sure I graduated before I got to the NFL. One goal was to get to the NFL but another goal was to graduate. Every time I reached a goal, I set another one.”
In fact, his football achievements are not what Woodyard is most proud of. “I’m not afraid to tell anybody, my two great accomplishments were being named Academic All-SEC twice.”
Woodyard also knows that teamwork applies in every aspect of life. His partner in 16 Ways is his cousin, Derrick Kelley, who serves as president of the organization. Together they implement their goals and dreams to help impact both the community they grew up in, as well as the communities that Woodyard has played in.
“I could not accomplish some of these things if I didn’t have people like Derrick,” Woodyard said. “It’s not just me who cares so much about the kids. They put they’re all in to it.”
Kelley, a track coach, was already heavily involved in community service, especially with at-risk children, trying to impress upon them the importance of selflessness over selfishness. Kelley and Woodyard together framed out their mission and plan for the foundation when Woodyard first arrived in the NFL by building off an organization that Kelley and his wife had already founded called It’s Not About Me. It’s Not About Me then evolved into 16 Ways.
16 Ways works to teach children about the important factors that will help lead them toward successful futures. At the base is instilling feelings of self-esteem and self-worth and educating children on how their actions can impact both those around them as well as themselves, with the idea being to encourage healthy behaviors in all areas of their lives.
The foundation also provides mentoring to help impart these philosophies and give children the tools to incorporate them as they navigate through setting and achieving personal goals.
And Woodyard is seeing the fruits of his labors. Many of the children he works with now approach him to talk about how they’re doing in school. Another proud accomplishment for the two-time Academic All-SEC honoree.
For more information about the 16 Ways Foundation: www.16ways.org