BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – The Boys and Girls Club of the Brazos Valley teamed up with Texas A&M Basketball’s Wade Taylor IV on Wednesday for a backpack drive and giveaway for the second year in a row.
Taylor spent the day with the Boys and Girls Club to distribute the backpacks and prizes that his foundation’s fundraising efforts have raised.
“It was a blast. I just want to give back to the community that has made me who I am today. You know, I’m from Dallas but being in College Station is like a second home,” said Taylor. “Giving these kids something to look forward [to], being excited to go back to school is what I want to do.”
Taylor is a Texas A&M basketball player who holds six school records, earned first team All-SEC honors two years in a row, and recently received the Buck Weirus Spirit Award. He has a foundation called the Four Wade Taylor Foundation which accepts donations for the backpack drive.
The Brazos Valley Boys and Girls Club serves kids from ages 6 to 18 with a mission to teach qualities and characteristics necessary to become a responsible member of the community and nation.
“I think he (Taylor) comes out and values the Boys and Girls Club because these are kids that most likely wouldn’t be exposed to the kind of things that he has going on in his life, basketball, his values, his initiatives,” explained Madison Little, annual fund associate for the boys and girls club. “It’s inspiring to see that people care about our mission… We just want to do our best to set these kids up for success.”
Taylor told KBTX his foundation donated 120 backpacks, 15 Chick-Fil-A gift cards, two tablets, and one laptop to the club.
Also in attendance at Wednesday’s backpack drive were Taylor’s teammates; Jace Carter, Zhuric Phelps, and Manny Obaseki. The young men spent time playing basketball with the kids. After a lot of excitement and smiles, the players offered the children words of encouragement in their futures.
“Seeing the kids smile, that means a lot to me, because I know one day I was going to get free backpacks and stuff like that,” Taylor shared. “[Being] able to take a break from all the other things in life, just to be able to relax and have fun. So, just seeing the kids smile [is the best part].
The Four Wade Taylor Foundation and Taylor’s family has plans to continue this tradition for a third consecutive year in 2025.
“College Station is like my second home. I’m forever an Aggie… So long as they let me do it is as long as I’ll be able to do it,” added Taylor.
To take part in helping the Boys and Girls Club of the Brazos Valley, donors can visit the club’s Amazon Wishlist and make a selection to donate. You can also make a monetary donation.
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