Everyone knows that Bo knows, but now we see that Bo knows generosity.
On Thursday we all learned that Bo Jackson, one of the greatest athletes in sports history, helped pay for the funeral expenses of the victims of the Uvalde massacre.
“I don’t know if it’s because I’m getting old. It’s just not right for parents to bury their kids. It’s just not right,” he told The Associated Press. “I know every family there probably works their butts off just to do what they do…The last thing they needed was to shell out thousands of dollars for something that never should have happened.”
Jackson said he felt a connection to the city as he passes through it while driving to his friend’s ranch.
As it turns out, Jackson’s donation to cover the funeral expenses was done in secret three days after the shooting.
He and an unnamed friend flew to the town days after 19 children and 2 teachers were gunned down by a domestic terrorist while attending Robb Elementary School. There he presented a check for $170,000 to Teas Governor Greg Abbott to pay for all the funeral expenses.
Abbott disclosed it as an anonymous donation during a news conference that day for Jackson didn’t want the attention.
“We didn’t want media,” he said. “No one knew we were there.”
Bo hadn’t spoken about it publically before discussing it earlier this week.
“Uvalde is a town that sticks in your mind. Just the name,” Jackson said. “I don’t know a soul there. It just touched me.”
Jackson tweeted about the horrific incident the day it happened, stating in part, “We aren’t supposed to bury our children.”
“This cannot continue,” he added.
When asked about his comments, Bo was humble in his response.
“I don’t want to turn this into anything (but) what it is. I was just trying (with the donation) to put a little sunshine in someone’s cloud, a very dark cloud,” Jackson said.
Bo participates in other philanthropic efforts, such as an annual bike ride in his home state of Alabama to raise money for tornado victims.
But this one hit the former Raiders running back much harder.
“It’s the children. … It’s the children. … It’s the children,” said an emotional Jackson. “If it doesn’t bother you, something’s wrong with you.”
