Engagement Insider
NEW YORK, NY September 27, 2013 – New York City can be a world unto itself, so sometimes it takes a special person to see past the Hudson River to the vast world beyond.
Tutan Reyes was just that person growing up in Queens as he took his talents to the SEC and NFL, and is now offering opportunities to others with his “Beyond the Boroughs” national scholarship fund (www.beyondtheboroughs.org).
“Education saved me when I played football,” said the veteran of six NFL teams and University of Mississippi graduate who was an SEC All-Academic Honor Roll Choice. “So I wanted to make a difference outside of football by giving back to students the same help I received along the way.”
That help has benefitted 39 students since 2009 by providing them with college scholarships, often being the last money in to help them live their dream.
“With the rising cost of tuition, students can get discouraged, so we wanted to help put them over the top,” remarked the tight end turned offensive lineman who began his journey at August Martin High School in Queens, where he made All-City in 1994.
Like all worthwhile journeys, there were bumps along the road, and Reyes had his in 2005 when he was out of the game as an NFL free agent for a few months.
“I had a tough time and kept wondering, ‘What’s next?’” he remembers.
It turns out that he did get back in the league, but he realized that students leaving high school and trying to get into college faced the same uncertainty that he had. That’s when he turned his attention to education, his other passion beyond football.
“Our scholarships are based on need, and we have had over 2,000 applicants during the years, with our recipients receiving up to $20,000 toward their college costs that we raise in part from fundraising events,” stated Reyes. “To qualify, our students fill out an online application, including an essay where they write about the obstacles they have overcome.”
Obstacles familiar to Reyes growing up in the Jamaica section of Queens, who was raised in a stable single-parent household where his mother helped him achieve both academic and athletic success.
“I was blessed with my transitions in life, and wanted to pay that back by helping others get the education they deserve,” closed Reyes, who also owns a restaurant and does broadcast work as well as an on-air football personality.