TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) On a Tuesday afternoon, with many of his teammates well into their bye week time off, Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy speaks inside a packed boardroom. There is a game plan to launch, only this one is larger than any game McCoy has ever played. McCoy has come to the WFLA News Channel 8 facility to put the final pieces together for the Patricia Diane Foundation. No matter what McCoy does on the field in his career, this will be his lasting legacy, a foundation named after his mother, who passed away when he was 19 years old, away at college.
On this day, the meeting is attended by bay area business leaders and McCoy, along with his wife Ebony, are assembling the foundation’s executive board. While the foundation is already functioning, the full scale launch is planned for November with an awareness campaign will lay out the short and long term goals.
Playing in his ninth NFL season, McCoy has earned respect on the field. His Pro Bowl count stands at six and he has remained a team leader through coaching changes as well as personnel on the defensive line. His football success is a result of work and dedication but McCoy has quietly worked even harder in the community.
“There comes a point in your career where you’re like, man, I’ve played enough football. I want to change people’s lives,” McCoy said. “I want to impact my city more than just what I can do on the grass.”
Based on his own life experience, McCoy has a huge interest in helping children in single-parent homes. He has worked with kids, hosting football camps, teaching them the sport and encouraging physical fitness. McCoy has also taken a liking to creating lifelong memories for families.
In 2012, the McCoy’s started the McCoy Family Christmas, a small gesture with just over ten families selected. His purpose was to create the ultimate holiday experience and see children have their Christmas wishes come true. It has grown from a dinner and gifts to full shopping evenings. The list of families has grown to 40. Under the Patricia Diane Foundation, McCoy hopes that it can get to at least 60 families.
The foundation also plans to work closely with the Pediatric Cancer Foundation, continuing another aspect of McCoy’s dedication to the community. It will evolve into further ventures, helping both the Tampa Bay area and McCoy’s home state of Oklahoma as well. He is not alone however, inside the Bucs locker room. As a veteran player, McCoy says he is always available for advice, if a younger player is interested in making a difference as well.
“It’s not just me. My teammates are heavily involved, like what Mike Evans does, Lavonte (David) with Big Brothers Big Sisters,” McCoy said. “The O-line does Turkey Time with the O-Line”
