FB Marcel Reece recently joined United Way TEAM NFL—a core group of college-educated, civic-minded NFL players committed to helping United Way recruit one million volunteers to help kids stay on track and graduate high school on time.
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| FB Marcel Reece with one of the young fans at the TweetUp.Photo by Tony Gonzales |
"Marcel will take a lead in being our ambassador in the Bay Area and also drum up support in the Raiders community," said Ari Warmerdam, Business and Individual Giving Officer for United Way. "[The Raiders] have a tremendous fan following. We know Marcel will be a leader in terms of recruiting them, getting them to support his work with us and really drumming up awareness our work and what he's leading."
Reece and United Way teamed up to host a TweetUp, in which fans were notified of an opportunity to meet Reece at the Hegenberger Raider Image via Twitter and other social media avenues. "Basically we're just out here and we invited all the fans to come out to have some fun with us for a good cause, United Way and 'Living United,'" said Reece. "We just want to have fun and we want kids to stay in school. We want to get kids through school. We want them to graduate. We want everyone to be successful. We will do everything in our power that we can do."
United Way's educational goal, according to its website, is "to cut by half the number of young people who drop out of high school by 2018."
Reece is determined to help United Way reach that goal through his involvement. "It was astonishing to me that 1-in-4 American kids don't graduate and I want to do everything in my power to stop that from happening," said Reece.
The TweetUp was the first of many activities in which Reece will participate throughout his ambassadorship with United Way. The fourth-year fullback enjoys getting out and interacting with the fans. "I think it's been great running into a lot of kids and a lot of families, just Raiders fans," said Reece. "The Raider Nation is second-to-none and I love doing things with them and bringing them out and being out here and interacting with them all the time."
Reece asks Raider Nation to join his United Way team and help make a difference in the community.
