Ex-Michigan football player LaMarr Woodley covers pay-to-play fees for entire school district
LaMarr Woodley, pictured above running drills at his football camp in Saginaw, will makes sure those drills go to use by covering pay-to-play fees for the enitre school district.
Jeff Schrier | Saginaw News
Off the field, however, he's done plenty to make life better for others.
According to a Saginaw News report, the former Wolverine and current Pittsburgh Steeler will donate $60,000 to the Saginaw Public Schools athletic department to ensure no student athlete has to pay-to-participate for the 2012-13 school year.
According to the report, because of cuts to the athletic budget, the school system recently instituted pay-to-participate fees for the first time in Saginaw Public Schools history, charging high school students $75 a year to participate in athletics.
“When LaMarr heard about it, it bothered him,” said Malcom Staples, Woodley’s uncle and business advisor. “When LaMarr was playing sports, if his family had to pay $75, they probably could have done it, but it would not have been a simple thing. It would be a hardship for a lot of people, even if they could come up with the money.”
Woodley grew up in Saginaw and graduated from Saginaw High in 2003. The donation will pay participation fees at Saginaw High as well as at rival Saginaw Arthur Hill.
Comments
3 4 a2
Sat, Aug 18, 2012 : 2:06 p.m.
Congratulations to Mr. Woodley. Making a difference in someone else's life is truly achieving something great. How wonderful that he could leverage his athletic skill and bounty into a gift that will impact so many lives and, in fact, an entire community's well-being.
Milqueman
Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 5:26 p.m.
Very classy LaMarr, you're a good man. Go Blue!!
northA2
Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 4:04 p.m.
I'm an Ohio State alum and fan....and LaMarr Woodley is a class act. So nice to see!
s
Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 1:52 p.m.
It's the Pittsburgh Steelers, not Pittsburg.
Pete Cunningham
Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 2:07 p.m.
The correction has been made. Thank you.
jayjay
Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 12:22 p.m.
People outside Michigan wonder why UofM has such a big following, why UofM alumni seem to come out of the woodwork -- Lamarr Woodley shows you why! Thanks to a great individiual that again brings pride to the UofM. Thank you, Mr. Woodley, for giving back to the community. You do yourself abd the UofM proud.
jester32b
Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 10:07 a.m.
What a great example to set for the kids. I could not think of a better way to give back to a community. Mr. Woodley just gave those kids the opportunity to let athletics help them succeed as adults. Mr. Woodley, you just made me a Steelers fan.
Steve McQueen
Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 9:10 a.m.
This is an amazing and thoughtful gift from Woodley to the kids. He has done so much for Saginaw youth football. What a great guy, and a fantastic player as well. He almost makes me want to root for the Steelers ;)
a2girl
Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 4:15 a.m.
DJBud - And thank you for the history lesson. I will add that this year marks the 100th anniversary of Hill Auditorium. The University Musical Society has many events planned to celebrate this amazing building. Hill Auditorium was the first Big House in A2!
a2girl
Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 4:07 a.m.
This brings tears to my eyes. His gift will very likely inspire other professional athletes to make similar gifts. Thank you Mr. Woodley!
DJBudSonic
Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 3:38 a.m.
Good for those kids and thank you Mr. Woodley. As a fellow Saginaw (Arthur Hill) graduate and a U of M graduate I think this sets a great example for others. If only we could reach out to some other Ann Arbor/UofM folks to chip in here in the AAPS. Of course, Saginaw folks probably need the help a bit more, their taxes are lower but my parents house SEV/taxable value is the same as it was in the 70's so that tells you about the economic situation there. I don't know how the school board is run up there but these type of direct payments for programs are one good way to make sure your kindness is not squandered by administrative hijinks. Trivia time... Saginaw Arthur Hill High School was named for UofM grad Arthur Hill, a lumber baron in the Michigan Thumb region. After he made his fortune he gave money to build the second high school in Saginaw, named after him. The school mascot and team name is the "Lumberjacks" and the school colors are Maize and Blue. The football stadium at AHHS is sunk into the ground to add more seats and create the illusion from the outside that the bowl is not as large as it is. This was copied from the design for the long-since buried/overbuilt Big House. He also gave money for his other namesake, Hill Auditorium, here in Ann Arbor. In fact there is a bronze plaque just inside the entrance doors telling about Mr. Hill. And that...is the rest..of the story...
Julie Lee
Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 4:33 a.m.
Very Cool! I never knew that and I grew up in the Saginaw Area.
garrisondyer
Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 3:56 a.m.
Cool! I never knew about Arthur Hill the person.
garrisondyer
Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 2:20 a.m.
Awesome. LaMarr rocks. For some students, the opportunity to participate in sports is what inspires them to work hard in the classroom too, with the eligibility requirements and all. This will most likely pay big dividends back to a lot of high schoolers in the years to come.
golfer
Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 1:42 a.m.
makes michigan proud
heartbreakM
Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 1:30 a.m.
When I see this giving back, it gives me hope for the athlete's hearts. Too few athletes do this. When I suggested that UM and MSU would do better (for the state's citizens), to give some of these millions they spend on high-def screens back to the schools and even partner with the poor school districts to student teach--I was politely told to get a clue. Imagine, Lamarr Woodley gives 60K to do this, and it makes a difference to an entire school district. Multiply that by 100 and that's only part of what MSU is spending on a bigger better HDTV (to outdo Michigan) and multiple that by 50 and that is what David Brandon is spending on some screen to distract drivers outside M stadium. It's amazing what kind of impact this can have. Thank you.
heartbreakM
Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 8:54 p.m.
You all make good, and CORRECT points. I don't have an issue with what you are saying, or the commitment that Um athletics has to the UM Mott hospital. My question is really at the heart of how big collegiate athletics has to get. Would the fans stop coming if we didn't have a 10 million dollar HDTV? Or (choose your expensive thing)? I was just using these monitors as an example of how I'd like to see the universities just once say, "we have the capacity to do X, but in the name of partnering with our state high school and younger students, and in the name of trying to control how out of control college athletics has become, we are choosing to invest it in a different way..." I am impressed by these athletes who remember from where they come, and though I don't like playing MAC schools, you are right that sharing the $$ with EMU or CMU or WMU is laudable and helps the state institution. (Though I don't want to see more than one of those a year, and woudl prefer to see SEC or Big12 schools). PS--David Brandon's huge donation is great, but problematic at the same time because how in the world does the university to which he gave so generously then turn around and say "no" to his big plans or discipline him if needed? It is a hard business relationship to hire your big donors and regents in positions of employ.
Milqueman
Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 5:45 p.m.
I just looked it up. Last year UofM athletics raised 1.9 MILLION for the C.S. Mott children's hospital This year they raised 1.45 MILLION Dave Brandon DONATED 4 MILLION to the Michigan Difference of which 2 MILLION went directly to the hospital to build a brand new ICU. This article was published 20 May 2012 http://www.annarbor.com/sports/um-football/former-michigan-football-greats-help-raise-about-16-million-and-counting-for-childrens-hospital/#.UC0ux4l5nTo Hmm... I guess UofM athletics does give back to the community
Milqueman
Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 5:25 p.m.
I don't know the exact dollar amount and all the details. But UofM does a considerable amount for the CS Mott children's hospital every year. They hold fundraisers which bring in hundreds of thousands each year and the student athletes and coaches visit the kids there all the time. There is even an entire wing of the hospital dedicated to and named after Lloyd Carr in the hospital for all he has done. So yes, UofM athletics does give back to the community in certain ways. This is just one example, but I'm sure there are others. I guess this has been forgetten about or overlooked here. Just saying.
SurlyCommenter
Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 3:12 p.m.
If the athletic department is a business, don't most businesses give charitable donations? The athletic departments that make a ton of money should funnel some of it towards youth sporting programs. Nothing but good could come from that.
Joshua Nagelkerke
Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 2 p.m.
chapmaja - You hit the nail right on the head while still being respectful to heartbreakM. Nicely done. I think we can all agree on one thing #GOBLUE
chapmaja
Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 2:38 a.m.
I just have a couple things to respond to you with. First, I completely agree with you regarding the athletes giving back. Second, I disagree that too few athletes do things like this. I think there is a much larger number of athletes that give significantly to charity than you think, either with money or with their time. Much of it does not get mentioned in the news, but a lot of athletes do give back, and they give hansomely as well. Third, one thing needs to be remembered about MSU, UofM and other major college athletic powers. Like it or not they are businesses. They are in business to make money. We can say all we want it shouldn't be like that, but the fact is that they are big businesses. As a big business they need to invest in capital projects to bring in customers (ticket buyers) and keep them coming back. The latest thing to have these massive scoreboards so people can see what is going on when they can't see (cuz they are in the 100th row) what is going on. These are capital investments that help bring in customers. What do those profits that an athletic department brings in do? They support other athletic programs at the school. Football and basketball at Michigan support the other 25 athletic teams at Michigan. Football and basketball provide the money for scholarships to the student athletes in those sports, the costs for equipment, travel, coaching, ect in those sports. How many of those athletes may not be able to attend Michigan or any college if it weren't for athletics? Those scoreboards the name Michigan, or Michigan State also help more than just the school themsevles. When Michigan brings in EMU, or another smaller program, there is a substantial payment made to the other school. If Michigan pays a school like EMU 850K to come to Ann Arbor to get killed, that 850K pays the majority of the scholarships for the entire football program (85 scholarships at 10K each). That is money those schools don't need to fund now. Athletics = business.
Terry Star21
Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 1:02 a.m.
Thank you LaMarr Woodley. What a great person to remember what the sport meant to you at that age and how even $75.00 now days is tough on families. Good luck the fall with the Steelers.
7718
Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 12:56 a.m.
LaMarr is a class act!
sharma saith
Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 12:54 a.m.
Indeed ...a Michigan Man !
Tag
Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 12:46 a.m.
Way to go LaMarr.
a2roots
Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 12:42 a.m.
Way to step up LaMarr.
Albert Howard
Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 12:41 a.m.
Awesome! Thank you LaMarr Woodley!
JerryL
Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 12:37 a.m.
Thank you, Mr. Woodley!