As a Heart Warrior, TJ Carrie is committed to providing passionate support to children diagnosed with congenital heart disease (CHD.) His focus is on the child’s physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs and that of their family while listening to their fears and uncertainties. His encouraging message is to be brave, remain strong, work hard, and dream big. That is the “TJ Carrie Heart Warrior” battle cry. Together, the children with CHD and their families can overcome the fears and uncertainties they face each day.Along with mentorship, the TJ Carrie Foundation provides support and health information programs, including Camp Carrie, Shadow Buddies, and Preventive Heart Screenings.

The TJ Carrie Foundation is committed to teaching financial literacy to students. When serving as a mentor and volunteer at Garrett Morgan High School in Cleveland, TJ realized the students lacked a basic understanding of financial concepts, i.e., budgeting, savings, credit, debt, financial institutions, identity theft, and writing a check. He researched topics and brought the students a new lesson on finances each week. TJ's financial literacy plan has grown from a one-hour curriculum to an eight-week program and, since 2019, has increased the number of course cohorts by 300 percent.

The TJ Carrie Foundation has a robust programming plan for 2023, and needs your support to serve heart warriors ,their families and youth across the country to DREAM BIG ! 

Help Us Provide Heart Screenings for Cleveland's Youth

The TJ Carrie Foundation provides a social-emotionally supportive community for children and families living with heart conditions

The mission of the TJ Carrie Foundation is to provide a social-emotionally supportive community for children and families living with heart conditions, while educating the greater community on heart health. In addition to inspiring youth to Dream Big through  education and physical activity.  

​When the NFL cornerback started his foundation in 2016, TJ’s goal was to help young people struggling with physical challenges, offering encouragement and advice to children and families dealing with health issues. Along with his wife, Ty’lsha, the foundation’s mission has grown to inspire all youths to establish and achieve big dreams. With signature programs and community events, the foundation provides a platform for TJ to be hands-on and engaged with young people and their families,  helping them overcome their problems and accomplish their goals.  The TJ Carrie Foundation’s approach is built on the pillars of faith, hope, courage, and love.

Being a professional football player being able to play the game is such a blessing for TJ each day and one that he does not take for granted. He dreamed about putting on those pads and helmet and playing under the Friday night lights, on Saturday afternoons, and even on to the NFL.

 As a 14-year-old freshman at Deer Valley High School in Antioch, California, TJ was hyped to begin his journey. On the first day of tryouts, his life changed forever. It was hot, and they were working hard. He was sweating and was having trouble catching his breathing … and then it all went dark.

TJ left the field in an ambulance and was transported to thehospital. The medical personnel stabilized him. But the doctors were stumped as to what caused his problem. It was a year later before they had an answer. TJ had a one-in-a-million birth defect where his right coronary artery was positioned between his lungs.

The doctors gave a now 15-year-old and his family two choices. He could give up any strenuous physical activity for the rest of his life, ending his dreams of playing football. Or TJ could undergo risky surgery to correct the problem. With the help of his family, he decided to take a chance, so he could keep alive his big dream of playing football. On Valentine’s Day 2006, TJ underwent open-heart surgery at Oakland Children’s Hospital.

He spent two months recuperating in the hospital, part of what became a year-and-a-half-long recovery. It was hard, scary, and challenging, but he was driven by his big heart and a relentless work ethic to achieve his dream.  He recovered and was finally able to play football as a senior at De La Salle High School in Concord, California, where the Spartans won a state championship that season. He went to Ohio University, where he played 50 games for the Bobcats and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in sports administration. 

And his ultimate dream was achieved when Oakland selected him in the 2014 NFL Draft, beginning a pro career where he has worn the uniform of the Raiders, Browns, and Colts.

 

TJ Carrie Foundation

I gave because I believe in the mission and have seen the work of this foundation first hand! 

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Help Us Provide Heart Screenings for Cleveland's Youth

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