CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow announced the launch of a nonprofit foundation that will aim to meet the needs of families working to overcome food insecurity and childhood mental health issues. 

Burrow, and his parents Robin and Jimmy Burrow, made the announcement in a news release Tuesday.

What You Need To Know

  • Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow announced the launch of a nonprofit foundation

  • The nonprofit will aim to meet the needs of families working to overcome food insecurity and childhood mental health issues

  • The Joe Burrow Foundation will provide resources and support to those underserved in Ohio and Louisiana

  • Burrow will serve as the president of the executive board for the new foundation

The Joe Burrow Foundation will provide resources and support to those underserved in Ohio and Louisiana.

“I believe that everyone has a responsibility to do good,” said Burrow in a news release. “This Foundation allows me and my family to give back. So many of you made generous contributions to support food insecurity in Athens County, Ohio following my 2019 Heisman Trophy speech. We will build on our efforts to tackle food insecurity by also finding ways to offer up support in Greater Cincinnati, other parts of Ohio, Baton Rouge and Louisiana. My mom, a lifetime educator, experiences firsthand the effect of mental health issues on children and their families. We want to make a difference here as well.”

It is not the first time Burrow has addressed food insecurity. In 2019 during his Heisman Trophy acceptance speech, Burrow spoke about the challenges growing up in a community where many classmates and neighbors did not know where the next meal would come from.

"The poverty rate is almost two times the national average," Burrow said in his speech. "There's so many people there that don't have a lot and I'm up here for all those kids in Athens and in Athens County that go home to not a lot of food on the table, hungry after school. You guys can be up here too."

Following his speech, an outpouring of donations were given to the Athens County Food Pantry, where Burrow's hometown of The Plains is located. The donations were matched by the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio, making the original $350,000 in donations become $700,000. 

The donations went into creating the Joe Burrow Hunger Relief Fund, which was established in 2020 and provided relief for many throughout the pandemic. 

Burrow will serve as the president of the executive board for the new foundation while his father will serve as vice president. His mother will serve as secretary and treasurer. 

“Words can’t express how proud we are of Joe and his many talents,” said Jimmy Burrow in the release. “His commitment to improving the lives of those who are less fortunate is especially meaningful to our family.”

Business and community leaders from Greater Cincinnati, Athens and Baton Rouge have already committed to serving on the Burrow Foundation Board of Directors and Advisory Board.

“As an elementary school teacher and principal, I see kids grow and succeed every day,” said Robin Burrow in the news release. “I also recognize the stress and challenges that students and their families face. We are committed to bringing people and resources together to help make a difference. We hope you can join us along the way.”

To learn more about the foundation, click here.