ATHENS, Ga. (Sept. 4, 2020) -- The University of Georgia Athletic Association (UGAAA) is partnering with Atlanta Falcons running back and former Bulldog Todd Gurley across several initiatives.
Within the partnership, Gurley will be involved in a variety of aspects of on-and-off campus activities to meaningfully connect with the school, its students and alumni. Gurley will serve as a mentor and featured speaker for student-athletes on topics such as social justice, creating value beyond sport, financial literacy and entrepreneurship.
“Athens is my second home, and playing for the Falcons will allow me to spend more time there,” said Gurley. “UGA fans embraced me as a young man, and that support has stayed with me throughout my time in the NFL. I am looking forward to getting to know the students and alumni, and making a difference in the community that has meant so much to me.”
Gurley’s Make A Difference Every Day (M.A.D.E.) Foundation, which supports youth by focusing on their physical, social and educational health, will also host events for the local Athens community, and will partner with The Georgia Bulldog Club for philanthropic donor events.
As an initial activation, M.A.D.E. will participate in the “Dawgs for Pups” campaign which will assist in raising funds to help provide internet access to kindergarten through eighth-grade students in the Athens-Clarke County School District. Donations raised will aim to provide digital learning opportunities for over 1,000 families and approximately 2,500 students in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Todd is an outstanding ambassador for our program,” said Senior Deputy Director of Athletics, Josh Brooks. “Now that he’s in our backyard, we’re excited to engage Todd in several areas. This partnership will not only create meaningful programming for our student-athletes, but also impact our local community.”
Gurley was a standout student-athlete at UGA from 2012-14, earning all-SEC honors in both 2012 and 2013, and rushing for 3,285 yards and 36 touchdowns over 30 games played. He is entering his sixth season in the NFL as a running back for the Atlanta Falcons.
About UGAAA
There are 21 sports within the UGA Athletic Association with approximately 500 student-athletes involved. Dating back to the Bulldogs’ first football national title in 1942, Georgia has tallied 45 team national championships. The Bulldogs have captured 172 SEC team championships with its first coming in baseball in 1933.
About Todd Gurley
Todd Gurley is an NFL running back for the Atlanta Falcons. Throughout his professional career to date, Gurley has rushed for 5,404 yards and 58 TDs on 1,265 carries, has been named to the Pro Bowl three times and was named Associated Press First Team All Pro in 2017 and 2018. Following the 2017 season, Gurley was awarded with the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year Award after he ran for 1,305 yards and 13 rushing TDs, and tallied 788 yards and six receiving touchdowns. Gurley was drafted 10th overall in the 2015 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams, and joined the Falcons as a free agent in 2020. Gurley founded the Make A Difference Every Day (M.A.D.E.) Foundation on the principle of supporting youth by focusing on their physical, social and educational health. M.A.D.E. aims to give youth a unique perspective on life through sports, education and community involvement, building character that will remain with them for a lifetime. Gurley is represented by Roc Nation Sports, and is a native of Tarboro, NC.