Jets’ busy Beachum uses many life passions to help others
FLORHAM PARK, N. J. (AP) >> Kelvin Beachum might be the NFL’s most fascinating man.
He’s certainly one of the busiest.
Beachum is a philanthropist, humanitarian, smallbusiness investor and a big- time tech geek. Oh, and he’s also responsible for protecting the blind side of the New York Jets’ 21-year- old franchise quarterback.
“Man, Beach is a very interesting guy,” right tackle Brandon Shell said. “He’s so smart and he’s always got something going on.”
Beachum’s offseason itiner- ary is loaded with a laundry list of interests and passions that would make even the most organized person sweat.
He’s a left tackle first, though, an invaluable part of rookie Sam Darnold’s offensive line.
“I’ve got to make sure I keep him clean,” Beachum
said. “I take pride in that. I love it. The thing is, pressure either busts pipes or makes diamonds. I’m all about making diamonds.”
The 29- year- old Beachum is a big man with big blocks and an even bigger heart.
This week is an important one off the field for
Beachum, who’s a public advocate in the fight against hunger. In conjunction with World Food Day on Tuesday, he has donated $5,000 to the Food Bank For New York City and challenged New Yorkers by pledging to double that amount if they matched his support. He has done the same with food banks in Texas — Mexia, where he grew up, and Dallas, where he went to college at SMU — as well as in the cities of his pre-
vious two NFL stops: Jacksonville, Florida; and Pittsburgh. The total contribution could reach $75,000 and provide 375,000 meals.
“What it does for me is it allows me to keep things in perspective,” said Beachum, whose interest in humanitarian efforts was sparked by a canned food drive in college. “I was one of those kids that was on food stamps growing up. We had to lean on the WIC program. We had people who
helped us out. So, for me, that keeps me grounded, honestly, because I was there.”
While Beachum and his family didn’t have much growing up in Mexia, they had work ethic. Beachum’s grandfather was blind, but worked on cars — still does, even at 91 — and taught Beachum’s father to do so, too.
So, all Beachum knows is working hard and keeping busy. And helping anyone he can.