Chris Long gets shoutout from former president Barack Obama
PHILADELPHIA (WTXF) - Chis Long got a special shoutout from former president Barack Obama after he donated his first six game checks of the 2017 season to fund scholarships for students in his hometown of Charlottesville, Virginia.
Obama tweeted the following: "Chris Long gave his paychecks from the first six games of the NFL season to fund scholarships in Charlottesville, VA. He wanted to do more, so he decided to give away an entire season's salary. That's a story from 2017."
Long said he was using the rest of his salary for 2017 to launch the Pledge 10 for Tomorrow campaign.
"My wife and I have been passionate about education being a gateway for upward mobility and equality," Long told The Associated Press. "I think we can all agree that equity in education can help affect change that we all want to see in this country."
Long signed a two-year, $4.5 million contract with the Eagles, including a $500,000 signing bonus and $1.5 million guaranteed. His base salary in 2017 is $1 million.
Long, the son of NFL Hall of Famer Howie Long, grew up in Charlottesville, Virginia and attended the University of Virginia.