Sports Agent and Sports Lawyer Blog

Here is another example of an athlete leaving a lasting legacy: Minnesota Vikings defensive back Madieu Williams donated $2 million to establish the Madieu Williams Center for Global Health Initiatives at the University of Maryland.

From the article:

But sources at the University of Maryland say Williams has shown an uncommon generosity with both his time and money. Last year, they say, he quietly built a school in Sierra Leone, one of the poorest places on Earth. Over the past 18 months, he has worked with the university on the current initiative, which will fund student volunteers and professionals to make an initial assessment trip to Sierra Leone early next year to determine which health issues are most important

As with Alonzo Mourning helping to create the kidney donation insurance coverage change, it is wonderful to see athletes who consider giving back to be more than a token requirement of their status.

Many athletes talk about leaving a charitable or philanthropic legacy. Few athletes have their names attached to groundbreaking legislation.

In Florida recently, the the Alonzo Mourning Access to Care Act went into effect. The law expands insurance coverage for kidney transplants. Alonzo Mourning already had a monumental list of accomplishments on and off the basketball court – from NBA Championship to kidney transplant survivor. Now he has a lasting legacy that will alter the way Florida insurance carriers treat patients with renal disease.

A sports agent or firm with a sports law practice cannot guarantee you will get a law named after you(!), but can certainly help you set up a philanthropic giving program.