It is always heart warming to witness stories of preemie babies overcoming adversity and flourishing, and Odell Beckham Jr. stands as a remarkable example of resilience. Beyond thriving in his personal and professional life, Odell, as an NFL player and a new father, has chosen to give back to a cause that resonates with us all, the March of Dimes. It's a testament to his character and a reminder that success can be a powerful platform for positive change. By using his journey from preemie to fatherhood and NFL stardom to make a difference, Odell not only inspires but also contributes to a cause that makes a difference in so many preemie lives. His story serves as a beacon of hope and a call to action, demonstrating the transformative power of personal triumphs when directed toward the greater good.

This story is told by Giana Han in the Baltimore Banner:

Players have something special planned for Sunday’s game against the Rams

Odell Beckham Jr. has used My Cause My Cleats to flex his creativity and generosity over the years, but lately he’s been so focused on getting healthy that this year’s sneaked up on him. So, when his mom came to him with a cause, he was quick to tell her, “Yeah, let’s do it.”

Heather Van Norman is very involved with all of Beckham’s charitable work, and this year she asked him if he would support the Black Women’s Health Initiative, the “first and only national non-profit solely dedicated to achieving health equity for Black women in America,” according to its website. The cause spoke to Beckham.

“I just watched her put in all her effort, energy and time taking care of a human, raising a human,” Beckham said. “Also working, providing, putting food on the table. And I just know that story and what it’s like. So, to me, it’s just something that’s close to home. Just wanted to bring awareness to it.”

He’s not the only one inspired by his mother. Long snapper Tyler Ott will be wearing cleats to support March of Dimes, for which his mom works as the executive director in Oklahoma. Although Ott doesn’t hold office, he’s been involved with March of Dimes since the day he was born.

Ott was born a month early and spent 10 days in the neonatal intensive care unit. He was lucky to be healthy, but he’s heard many times how hard it was for his parents not to be with their newborn. Now that he’s a dad twice over, he connects even more strongly to the mission of March of Dimes.

The foundation’s slogan is “Level the playing field for all moms and babies,” which goes perfectly with the platform the NFL is giving Ott.

To read the full story click here.