As he prepares to take on Miguel Cotto on May 5, Floyd Mayweather will share some of his thoughts with us.
In this installment, Mayweather discusses some of his lesser-known activities outside the ring.
Question: How important is it for you to stay involved and give back to the community? Can you tell us about some of your recent charitable efforts and whether any of them will coincide with your fight on May 5?
Mayweather: What I do in the ring means nothing if I don’t share my good fortune with the community. My desire to give back is just as strong as my desire to win. It is very important to me to help others and be active in the community, whether in Las Vegas, where I live, or my hometown of Grand Rapids, Mich.
I’ve always been a big supporter of the homeless and hungry because it’s an issue that is near and dear to my heart. It hurts me to see the homeless people and the state of their lives. Because I have been blessed with a gift that has brought me many blessings, including a house to live in and food on the table for my family, I definitely feel a sense of responsibility to give back to this group. The Money Team goes to the store, buys the supplies and then we hand out sandwiches, fruit and drinks to help as many as possible. I hope that when they see me, and not just my team, it will encourage them to do better and get themselves out of that situation.
I really want to make an impact on my community because I feel that people shouldn’t have to live on the streets and struggle to survive, and I’m willing to do whatever I can to help those in need.
I also like to give to charities that are already making a difference. Most recently, I made several donations to Las Vegas chapters of the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas and Three Square Food Bank. They all do great work, and I am happy to help support their efforts. As a matter of fact, last Saturday, April 21, right here in Las Vegas, the whole Money Team ran a 5K race for Habitat for Humanity. It was great fun, for a good cause, and we helped raise money too.
This past month, I’ve also made contribution and visited young students who attend Rainbow Dreams Academy, a local charter school in the Las Vegas which offers free open enrollment to underserved children. By supporting Rainbow Dream Academy, I feel like I can make a difference in the future of these young kids. In just the short time I spent with the students, I could see that they have great potential and deserve the best success possible in the future.
Everyone knows that my fight on May 5 is going to be the biggest fight of the year. But I am also doing something special before the fight with my foundation. On Thursday, May 3, The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation and Sugar Shane Mosley foundation (Diamond Love Foundation) will hold a “Spring of Style” Social Affair with live entertainment, a fashion preview and a DJ to play live music in order to raise funds for our charities. Anyone can attend the function, and we appreciate the support. For more information on the event, visit our website.
Even though I’ve been busy training for my fight, I find time to continue efforts to give back and, hopefully, doing my part to help those in need.
