College players receiving NIL money allows them to give back to their communities in a way that they were never capable of before. Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt recently did so by giving to an organization that means a great deal in and around Tempe.
BREAKING: Sam Leavitt makes a $15,000 personal donation to the Pat Tillman foundation.
— Blake Niemann (@Blakes_Take2) May 24, 2025
Incredible generosity from ASU’s star QB.@FOX10Phoenix pic.twitter.com/qHXmNy9A0c
As reported by Blake Niemann of Fox 10 Phoenix, Leavitt gave a donation of $15K to the Pat Tillman Foundation, which is named after legendary Arizona State safety Pat Tillman. Tillman was the PAC-12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2007 before playing for three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. However, he gave up his NFL career to enlist in the Army.
Tragically, Tillman was killed at the age of 27 in 2004 by friendly fire while serving in Afghanistan. He was posthumously promoted from specialist to corporal and also received the Silver Star and Purple Heart medals.
As for the Patrick Tillman Foundation, the official website gives the following details:
“The Pat Tillman Foundation identifies remarkable military service members, veterans, and spouses, empowering them with academic scholarships, lifelong leadership development opportunities, and a diverse, global community of high-performing mentors and peers. These scholars are making an impact as they lead through action in the fields of healthcare, business, public service, STEM, education, and the humanities.”
Leavitt, who transferred to Arizona State from Michigan State, was quickly embraced by the community. Now he is returning the favor.
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