Bengals rookie QB Joe Burrow is already making an impact off the field. Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Bengals QB Joe Burrow launches hunger relief fund

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 7/9/20

Cincinnati Bengals rookie quarterback and first overall draft pick Joe Burrow hasn't yet taken a professional snap, but he's already making a difference in Southeast Ohio.

As Louisiana television station WBRZ and TMZ Sports reported, the 23-year-old launched the Joe Burrow Hunger Relief Fund at the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio, which is meant to combat hunger in the region.

Per WBRZ, Burrow said:

"There’s a lot of people who are struggling right now without jobs, the economy is starting to open back up but people are still struggling now from the time it was closed. The faster we get this off the ground, the more people it can help."

As ESPN's Ben Baby wrote, the fund has already accumulated over $700,000.

Burrow addressed the fund via an Instagram post:

View this post on Instagram

Honored to partner with and personally support the Athens County Food Pantry and the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio in the establishment of the Joe Burrow Hunger Relief Fund. This initiative was made possible through the generosity of people from all over the country, and will have a tremendous effect on the food insecurity issues that many families face in Southeast Ohio. Special thank you to @krogerco , @bose , and @peoples_bank for joining me in helping to kick start this program. For more information on how you can support click the link in my bio

A post shared by Joe Burrow (@joeyb_9) on Jul 9, 2020 at 10:45am PDT

Burrow wrote:

"Honored to partner with and personally support the Athens County Food Pantry and the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio in the establishment of the Joe Burrow Hunger Relief Fund. This initiative was made possible through the generosity of people from all over the country, and will have a tremendous effect on the food insecurity issues that many families face in Southeast Ohio."

Burrow attended Athens High School in The Plains, Ohio. According to Baby, Athens County had a poverty rate of 30.2 percent in January 2019.

In a release, Burrow added:

"The initial funds that were raised have had an immediate impact for people throughout Athens County, and I am honored to lend my support and voice to this new initiative that will ensure that impact lasts long into the future."

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