Willie McGinest Charitable Edeavors

Driven by the philosophy instilled by the McGinest family, the focus of the Willie McGinest Charitable Gift Fund is simply stated as commitment to service, respect, and individual excellence. These principles provide the structure for grants from the Willie McGinest Charitable Gift Fund, to make a meaningful difference in the lives of people living in underserved and under-resourced communities.

With his ability to crush opposing offenses any given Sunday, Willie McGinest is a force to be reckoned with on the gridiron. The veteran linebacker signed with Cleveland in 2006 after 12 successful seasons in New England. He made an immediate impact for the Browns, notching 46 tackles and 4 sacks while adding immeasurable value to the team through mentoring and leadership and carried that same momentum throughout the 2008 season. McGinest ranks third on the Patriots all-time sack list, and he is the all-time sack leader in NFL playoff history, an accomplishment punctuated by one stellar night in 2006. His record-breaking performance came with a stunning 4 ½ sacks and 8 tackles in an AFC wild card victory. Those 4 ½ sacks also set an NFL single-game playoff record.

Willie McGinest was drafted out of the University of Southern California by the Patriots in the first round of the 1994 NFL Draft. From there he worked tirelessly to become one of the most electric and formidable defenders in the team’s history. He was instrumental in leading New England to Super Bowl Championships in 2002, 2004, and 2005. Even more amazingly, his three Super Bowl rings and two Pro Bowl selections have come in the latter half of his career thus far. Willie’s steadfast approach to his job lies at the heart of his success. “I’ve got a commitment to this game like no other,” he says, “I’ve been playing it since I was 8 years old.”

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