One of Jaylen McClain’s first actions after Ohio State’s Big Ten Championship Game loss to Indiana was to hit up Target. Not for himself, but for children in Columbus.
He bought toys for boys and girls of all ages to donate to the Salvation Army of Central Ohio’s Christmas Cheer toy distribution. Despite already facilitating tons of toy donations through his and his family’s relatively new foundation, Everyday Legends, McClain went the extra mile by hitting up a store to buy extra toys with his own money.
“I just know that, especially with me living out here in Columbus, Ohio now, and being aware of where I'm from, Rockleigh, New Jersey, and just people in general, that not everybody has (the means) to be able to feel the same holiday spirit as the kid next to them,” McClain said. “So I just want to make everybody feel the same (joy) in times like this.”
With the help of Ohio State teammates Caleb Downs, Eddrick Houston and James Peoples, McClain saw the fulfillment of his efforts on Wednesday when he helped the Salvation Army distribute toys to more than 4,000 families in need in Central Ohio.
“It means a lot to be able to give back to the people that aren’t as fortunate as I am,” McClain said. “I'm going to give them my blessings that were upon me, be able to give it back, make everybody feel loved and cared for in this holiday season. It feels great.”
When Jaylen McClain co-founded the Everyday Legends foundation with his family, he sat down with his parents, Syreeta and Maurice McClain, and two brothers, KJ and Cameron. KJ just signed to play football at Tennessee, and Cameron is a sophomore defensive end at Seton Hall Prep, where Jaylen played his ball in New Jersey. They discussed the things that mattered to them and what the foundation should support.
The three things they discussed were community, athletics and academics. No one initiative or cause came to the forefront, but they wanted to support multiple causes in their communities, wherever those communities may be. Jaylen partnering with the Salvation Army for a cause near to his heart fit that mold. In the future, the foundation plans to give out scholarships to young men and women and youth football camps.
“It's a blessing because, to whom much is given, much is definitely expected,” Syreeta McClain said. “So when you are blessed, you always bless others. Leadership is servitude, ultimately. So to be a leader is to be of service. And so for him to be boots on the ground, it's always – you should never lose focus of that and what you need to do. For the community, for the people who love you, for the people who follow you, for the people who respect you, always give back. Always.”
“I'm going to give them my blessings that were upon me, be able to give it back, make everybody feel loved and cared for in this holiday season. It feels great.”– Jaylen McClain on giving back to the community
Much of Jaylen McClain’s charitable mindset is learned from his parents. But it also fills his heart to use his platform and the money he’s earned through NIL and revenue sharing to give back to the community he’s immersed himself in.
“It all comes from my mom and dad,” McClain said. “They just know that, with the opportunities I have, this NIL stuff, there’s nothing better than to be able to give it back to people that matter to me or organizations that matter to me or that matter to other people. So I feel like that's a big deal when it comes to having the blessings that are upon me and being able to just give it back to people that deserve it.”
Through a partnership with the Salvation Army, McClain and Everyday Legends set up an Amazon Wishlist where people could buy toys to ship directly to the Salvation Army to hand out for the event.
McClain had help from a trio of Buckeye teammates at the Christmas Cheer event on Wednesday. His running mate at safety and two-time consensus first-team All-American Caleb Downs took time from his schedule to support. So did defensive tackle Eddrick Houston and running back James Peoples.
“It feels good,” Houston said. “Just to have people think that we're not just all about football, that we actually have a soul, too, and care about others. So it's good to show that we do by helping out regardless of who we are or what we've done.”
James Peoples helps a family pick out toys at the Christmas Cheer event.
McClain volunteered his time for the causes of other Ohio State teammates this year, too, including at Downs’ first annual Driving Hope Classic at Topgolf Columbus, which raised money to support homeless individuals and families.
“I think that's probably the most beautiful thing,” Syreeta McClain said. “Because we see them on the field together, but to know that they can band together for other causes that have nothing to do with football, that have nothing to do with even the classroom, so to speak – this is something completely different. And so to come together, it's a testament to the brotherhood that's fostered within Ohio State.”
Syreeta McClain also mentioned that building a legacy beyond the football field is of paramount importance for her son. Spreading holiday cheer to the less fortunate in Central Ohio is an incredible way to start.
