Warrick Dunn

By Demitri Blanco

Early Life

• Dunn was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on January 5th, 1975.

• Was raised by his hardworking single mother.

Teen Years

He became an outstanding athlete at his high school in Louisiana playing running back , quarterback, and cornerback. He also led his team to the Louisiana 4A championship high school game. As a senior he was an all America honorable mention. At age 18 his mother Betty Smothers ,a police officer, was shot and killed during a bank robbery changing his life forever.

Adult Life

After his mothers death Dunn was given a scholarship to Florida State University to play football. Fighting through depression and stress from college he had to raise five of his siblings with him. At FSU he won a national championship then after that he was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Dunn has written an autobiography as well.

Mothers Death

After his mothers death Dunn was devastated. Not only did he lose his mother he also lost his “ Best Friend”. He was thrown into playing father and had to raise his siblings through college. In 2007 Dunn finally met the men who killed his mother and forgave them for what they had done. Warrick has said to this

day he still has depression and regularly See’s a therapist.

Charity Work

Dunn started the Warrick Dunn Foundation and the Homes For The Holidays program helping single mothers purchase homes. The program, as of 2009, has assisted 84 single parents and 224 dependants in Atlanta, Baton Rouge, and Tampa, Florida. He received a Giant Steps Award in civic leadership from former President Bill Clinton for his program. In 2005, Dunn was presented with the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, the award is the only NFL award that recognizes a player for his community service as well as for his excellence on the field. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Dunn challenged all NFL players to donate at least $5,000 to the effort. Since forming his foundation, Dunn has received over $5,000,000 in contributions!!!