Eagles' Chris Long to donate 6 game checks to Charlottesville scholarships

PHILADELPHIA (WTXF) - Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Chris Long will be donating his first six game checks of the 2017 season to fund scholarships for students in his hometown of Charlottesville, Virginia, according to his foundation.

The scholarships will reportedly provide a seven-year, all expenses paid school program for two students. The scholarships are meant to promote "equality through education." The scholarships will be awarded to members of the Boys & Girls clubs of Central Virginia.

Long, the son of NFL Hall of Famer Howie Long, grew up in Charlottesville, Virginia and attended the University of Virginia.

The announcement comes weeks after the Unite the Right rally, along with counter-protests, took over the streets of Charlottesville over a span of several days, resulting in violence, and the death of a young woman.

Long was outspoken following the events in his hometown, and recently made headlines for supporting teammate Malcolm Jenkins during his protest of social injustice by putting his arm around him as Jenkins raised his fist during the national anthem.

Long's foundation, Waterboys, provides poor communities in Africa with "clean, safe and sustainable water access by hiring local crews to drill deep borehole wells serving up to 7,500 people."