SOLDERS Giant lineman and his wife put time
the holistic part of it is they’re taking care of their medicine, their education, their social interactions, and they’re teaching them Biblical lessons, which is not in their culture.”
Compassion’s new Survivorship Program aids pregnant mothers and their babies from day one. Their discipleship program brings in 5-to-6-yearolds and teaches them the Christian way of life while tending to their reallife needs.
“One of the things I love about it is they’re not training westerners and sending them to eastern cultures,” Solder said. “They’re taking people that live in those cultures, who know the values, standards and needs. These are highly trained, highly skilled, very passionate people from these neighborhoods. They were these kids when they were younger, so they know what it’s like to be in those shoes.”
In Uganda, where a male-dominated culture treats women poorly and often casts kids to the side, Solder said the program is taking care of “the weakest, the less fortunate” and “restructuring the way they think about the world.”
He also sees plenty that western culture can learn from those in these less-fortunate environments.
“In these cultures they have really close family ties, close communities. They all work together, they spend a lot of time in conversation and close relationships,” Solder said. “So it’s cool to see. They have a lot of values to add to our culture, I think.”
Solder’s faith is a huge part of his life, and he represented Compassion International during last season’s NFL My Cause My Cleats campaign. One thing that struck me listening to Solder talk about his philanthropy is that he and Lexi have a son, Hudson, who still undergoes treatment for cancer. But they still find time and energy to help so many overseas.
Solder’s answer on how they’re able to press on is the best way to show you who he is.
“To me it’s the same reason that Hudson is going through the things he’s doing through, is the same reason I play football, is the same reason we go to Uganda and Guatemala,” the Giants’ 6-9, 316-pound tackle said. “It wouldn’t make sense for me to play football if I was just going for the money. I’ve made money. It wouldn’t make sense if I was playing football just so I could have more fame, glory, whatever. It doesn’t make any sense.
“And why would I do that to take away time from my children?” he continued. “Same with it wouldn’t make sense for us to leave our kids and go to Uganda, when we need to be spending time with them. The only thing that makes sense is I was put here for a reason. There’s something bigger than just me and our purposes here. God’s up to something and he’s using me for all those things. So that’s what gives me joy, and all those things are interconnected.”
• Once a month, the Daily News will profile a group of Giants players who are giving back. In addition to Solder’s good works, here is a look at the meaningful off-field contributions of Saquon Barkley, Rhett Ellison, Michael Thomas and Antoine Bethea.
SAQUON BARKLEY, RB: supports Covenant House of Newark, a shelter for homeless young adults, in various ways throughout the season. This includes including inviting them to games and spending time with them after each home game.
Barkley also works to bring awareness to a little-known yet commonlydiagnosed condition called 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, a chromosomal deficiency that afflicts his young niece, Amirah. Barkley unveiled his first campaign to create awareness
around 22q11.2 deletion/duplication during the NFL’s MyCauseMyCleats campaign last season.
RHETT ELLISON, TE: supporter of Project KIND, a support system that creates opportunities for those experiencing homelessness in Newark, N.J., by providing food, mentoring, temporary housing, information, encouragement and support.
Ellison and his wife, Raina, are on the board of directors. They organize an annual luncheon with Project KIND at MetLife Stadium for more than 80 people experiencing homelessness that includes spa services, haircuts, massages, and the opportunity to meet with local social service agencies. Ellison represented Project KIND the NFL’s MyCauseMyCleats campaign last season.
MICHAEL THOMAS, S: named the Giants’ 2018 Walter Payton Man of the Year for his combined excellence in the community and on the field. Thomas hosted the 5th Annual “Camp Mike T” in his hometown of Houston, Tex., focusing on leadership, academics and athletics. The weekend event includes discussions on SAT/ACT prep, financial literacy, and athlete activism. He distributed his second $10,000 college scholarship to a camp participant.
Thomas, a leader in the Giants’ locker room on social justice issues, interned for three weeks during the 2018 and 2019 offseason with Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, learning about the duties of government and the responsibilities of serving in Congress. He also recently joined the Vera Institute of Justice for a two-day experiential learning visit regarding the criminal justice system and bail reform in Broome County (N.Y) and Tompkins County (N.Y).
ANTOINE BETHEA, S: named the Cardinals’ Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2018, after being named the Colts’ Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2018. Established the Safe Coverage Foundation with a commitment to providing access and resources for students to achieve their dreams of a higher education.
Bethea hosts annual youth football camps in Virginia and Washington, D.C. He created a unique collection of AB41 merchandise to help raise awareness for breast cancer in support of his mother who is a survivor. He’s also written a book, “Bet on Yourself.”
Bethea hosts an annual “AB41 Season of Giving” event where he takes 10 families on a $1,000 shopping spree for the holidays. He hosted his annual Safe Coverage Foundation College Tour where he took local high school seniors in the Newport News, Va., area to universities including Bethea’s alma mater Howard University.
With Thomas, Bethea recently joined the Vera Institute of Justice for a two-day experiential learning visit regarding the criminal justice system and bail reform in those New York counties.