Former NFL Running Back Terron Ward on Mentorship, Scholarships & the Wardboy Project

Former NFL running back Terron Ward joins The Giving Game to talk about the Wardboy Project, the foundation he co-founded with his brother to support underprivileged youth in the East Bay Area — the pocket of cities east of Oakland including Antioch, Pittsburg, Concord, and Brentwood that Terron and his brother call home.Terron breaks down the foundation's three main pillars: DRAW, a mentorship program pairing middle schoolers with dedicated mentors for weekly check-ins, tutoring, and guidance; the TK Scholarship Program, named in memory of Terrence Kelly, a standout De La Salle student-athlete and family friend who was shot and killed in 2004 before he could start college, which now covers private school tuition for kids who couldn't otherwise afford it; and the Bay Area Skills Academy, a free annual football camp that just wrapped its tenth year with roughly 200 kids in attendance. The foundation also recently held its first Student Athlete Summit, a full day of programming with 20 speakers ranging from college coaches to financial experts covering everything a student-athlete needs to know, including NIL.The conversation moves into the harder-to-talk-about parts of life after football: the identity crisis that hits when the structure of a 20-year athletic regimen disappears overnight, why confidence-building is one of the most important things a coach or mentor can give a kid, and how coaching philosophy has shifted away from the "screaming coach" model of Terron's father's era. Terron also shares a piece of advice from an unexpected source — a billionaire he met at a bar who told him to stop chasing his dreams and start chasing his talents — and reflects on fatherhood, raising two daughters, and why he believes real growth is never linear.If Terron's story moved you, you can support the Wardboy Project using the link below.What We Cover(00:02:19) What the Wardboy Project is, and why Terron and his brother started it(00:03:44) Inside the DRAW mentorship program for middle schoolers(00:04:43) The TK Scholarship Program, named for Terrence Kelly(00:05:37) The Bay Area Skills Academy: 10 years of free football camps(00:06:08) The foundation's first Student Athlete Summit(00:09:11) The identity crisis that hits after leaving pro sports(00:11:28) His father's coaching legacy and the "domino effect" of mentorship(00:13:52) Why instilling confidence is top of the list for coaching kids(00:15:12) How coaching philosophy has changed since his father's era(00:32:03) "Chase your talents, not your dreams": advice from a chance encounter(00:36:21) Why Terron has always been process-oriented, not just goal-oriented(00:38:26) Fatherhood and raising two daughters(01:00:39) Why "they're famous, they can't have money problems" is a myth(01:04:11) How to support the Wardboy Project without giving money(01:03:36) Where to donate and follow the Wardboy ProjectSupport the Wardboy Project👉 Website: wardboyproject.org 👉 Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok: @wardboyprojectCan't give financially? The Wardboy Project is always looking for mentors and event volunteers — or connections to others who might be able to support the mission.