Kelvin Beachum always had a chip on his shoulder, having to work harder than others to achieve his NFL dreams. Growing up below the poverty line in rural Texas, Beachum didn't have the opportunities most Americans are fortunate to have -- particularly in the educational system.
Beachum took on the role of Santa Claus this holiday season, donating backpacks and essential school supplies to more than 500 students at Sun Valley Academy in Phoenix for the underserved children in kindergarten to eighth grade. The Cardinals starting right tackle partnered with World Vision on this endeavor.
Beachum, who has kids of his own, takes pride in education being the foundation for young Americans. His goal is to bring positivity and energy to the families and those kids as the holidays are coming up.
"The teachers here in America need support," Beachum said to CBS Sports. "To be able to provide these teachers with resources such as books, spirals, pencils, pens, anything they need for their classrooms is so important."
"Not everybody has access those things," Beachum said. "These basic things all what every kid should have access to. I want to supplement them as much as I can. I want to be able to impact people not only here but across America and across the globe. World Vision has been a great partner to serve in that capacity. Being able to help locally, regionally and also on a global stage."
Beachum has played in the NFL for 10 years, starting every game he's played in since 2014. He worked hard to get to where he's been in his NFL career (drafted as a seventh-round pick in 2012), yet knows plenty of of America's youth won't have the opportunity to be a professional football player.
This is why Beachum wants to help in any way he can with education, especially in areas with 70% or higher poverty rates.
"A lot of people say they want to be a professional athlete -- there's nothing wrong with that," Beachum said. "But I say this all the time that not everyone can go pro in football, but you can go pro in STEM – science, technology, engineering, and math. If kids understand that and apply that to their educational life, it could take them a lot farther than playing football."
