My mother passed away from heart-related issues, so the work this Foundation is doing is meaningful to me on so many levels. 

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

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

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Music artists + streams = DONATIONS. How? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dw9rgHrD0m8&list=PLkX1GIXbtWien8DIJi9Bcq2ebTLh_xgHG&index=1

Give the Gift of Heart Health with the TJ Carrie Foundation

This Giving Tuesday, join us in making a life-saving impact. By donating to the TJ Carrie Foundation, you’re giving the gift of heart health to children and families in need. Our goal is to raise $5,000 to fund preventive heart screenings and essential support for young athletes and underserved communities, helping identify and prevent heart conditions before they become critical.

Why Your Support Matters

Every year, we see the life-changing impact these screenings have on young lives. For families like Noah's from John Hay, preventive care has made a world of difference. For others, our programs offer peace of mind, support, and educational resources in the journey toward heart health. With your help, we can continue this vital work.

**How Your Gift Helps**:

- **$10** provides heart health educational materials to a family.
- **$25** funds a comforting "Heart Shadow Buddy" for a child in treatment.
- **$50** covers a heart screening for a student-athlete in need.
- **$100** sponsors a heart health education session for local students.

**Special Match Opportunity**: Thanks to our corporate sponsor, Astonishing Construction, every donation up to $500 will be matched dollar for dollar. This means your gift can have twice the impact!

Together, we can reach our goal of $5,000 and make a lasting difference. Give today and share the link to invite others to help us transform lives through heart health.

**Donate Now:** https://www.every.org/tj-carrie-foundation/f/heart-health-month-give

This Giving Tuesday, let’s make heart health a gift we all share. #GiveHeartHealth #HeartWarrior

Give the Gift of Heart Health with the TJ Carrie Foundation

As we approach the heart of Giving Tuesday, we invite you to be a catalyst for change and impact. The TJ Carrie Foundation's mission of creating a social-emotionally supportive community for children and families with heart conditions is urgent and profound. We need your help to make a lasting difference!

✨ Empower Hearts: Your donation directly supports heart patients and their families by providing them with the necessary emotional and social support. Together, we're creating a safe space where they can find strength and camaraderie in their journeys.

📚 Educate Minds: Your generosity allows us to continue educating our community about heart health. By spreading awareness and knowledge, we're fostering healthier futures for everyone. Your support is a step towards a heart-healthy world.

🌠 Dream Big Futures: Your contribution fuels our efforts to inspire youth to dream big. Through education and physical activity, we're nurturing aspirations and showing young hearts that their dreams are within reach. Your donation can be the turning point in a child's life.
Your Giving Tuesday donation directly creates a brighter, healthier, and more empowered future for children and families facing heart conditions. Every dollar builds a strong, compassionate community, raises heart health awareness, and helps young dreamers thrive.

✨ Together, we're igniting hope, fostering dreams, and making a tangible difference. ✨


HeartStrong: Empower, Educate, Dream Big

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 ! 

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TJ Carrie Foundation