LaDainian Tomlinson in 2015
LT was back at his alma mater on Monday, announcing a new endowment fund that isn't just for sports.
Former TCU football star running back LaDainian Tomlinson and TCU Athletics announced the establishment of The Tomlinson Student-Athlete Development Endowment Fund. The goal of the fund, which supports TCU's Student-Athlete Development Department and the Team America Foundation, will be to aid in preparing student athletes for life and work after graduation.
The fund will come directly from private contributions at the inaugural A Night with LT at TCU event, which will be held at TCU on May 16.
TCU athletic director Jeremiah Donati says, “This endowment is one of the first of its kind in the country to have someone of LT's stature jump on board, not just write a check, but get involved at the ground level … [LT] is a better man than he was a football player, and that's saying a lot.”
Tomlinson says that his own experiences after college helped inspire his involvement.
“I felt like there was something that maybe I was missing,” he says. “If I had some type of leadership development early on … maybe I would've been more prepared for college and more prepared to play in the NFL.”
The TCU Student-Athlete Development programming includes networking events with business leaders in the community, etiquette dinners and community service.
“I think it's really going to change the face of the student-athletes here at TCU,” says Tomlinson. “It's really not about what they do here, It's about what they do when they leave this university, and they represent TCU. That's what it's truly about.”
For more information, contact the TCU Frog Club at 817-257-7700.