Patriots receiver Wes Welker is making a difference is his native Oklahoma City, most recently donating $24,000 grant to supply all necessary equipment to help rebuild soccer, football and softball fields at Jefferson Middle School.
Monday’s editions of the Oklahoman has the story, as Welker was in town over the weekend for a celebration.
The Wes Welker Foundation’s mission is to help level the playing field for at-risk kids in Oklahoma City through athletics.
“I’ve dreamed the past five years for us to do a field,” Welker told the crowd. “This is just the beginning. I want you to take ownership in this field, because this is going to be a reflection of what we’re going to do at other schools just like this.”
The celebration was scheduled during New England’s bye week. A four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver with the Patriots, Welker enjoyed watching the development of a project that includes an irrigation system.
“It’s been a cool experience,” Welker said. “We’ve been able to do a lot of great things. But the middle schools in Oklahoma City don’t have anything. This field was a bunch of gravel. It looked bad, no condition for kids to play on. Now it makes you want to get out there and play.”
Welker also touched on some of the early-season storylines surrounding him, and if the Patriots were phasing him out of the offense.
http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4733734/welker-gives-back-to-oklahoma