Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin is continuing his commitment to the DMV beyond the football field through a nonprofit aiming to provide career training for youth in Loudoun County, Virginia.
At a time when post-secondary education is incredibly expensive and thousands of federal workers have been furloughed, the first cohort of the Terry McLaurin Full Circle Jobs Program plans to assist 200 local youth gain job readiness skills.
“First off, I want to thank God. Since I was a kid, I’ve always had a passion for giving back. God has given me that passion,” McLaurin said at the May 8 announcement, adding that past opportunities extended to him also inspired his passion to help others.
This event offered mentoring, a free haircut, and skills training.
McLaurin launched the jobs program alongside Mobile Hope, the only Loudoun County-based nonprofit providing food, housing, and mental health support for unhoused people, particularly youth.
Having partnered and collaborated with other influential people and organizations, Donna Forter, founder and CEO of Mobile Hope, emphasized the importance of working with others to achieve the goal of supporting the homeless.
“This is a fabulous event. Any time we have someone of Terry’s caliber who can help address homelessness, it means a lot,” Forter said in an interview. “I don’t know where a lot of these kids would be if Mobile Hope weren’t here. This is their family, their community.”
For McLaurin, the opportunity to work with Mobile Hope allowed him to bring his vision to life.
“Thanks Donna and to the whole team with Mobile Hope. I couldn’t have made this happen without them,” he said. “I wanted to provide a program where all kids have the resources possible to step into the workforce.”
Volunteers Tout the Importance of Giving Back
Several participants and volunteers attended the May 8 Terry McLaurin Jobs Training Program kickoff, speaking with joy about the importance of volunteering, giving back and offering both resources and hope for the future.
“They accepted me without judgement after being incarcerated. It feels like home every time I come here,” said Loudon County resident Josue Arias, who regularly volunteers for Mobile Hope.
After his own life trials, Arias said this new opportunity working with the jobs training foundation— including a chance to interview with McLaurin himself— has been a gift.
“I lost both of my parents. Coming here to help out has been a very good blessing,” Arias told The Informer. “My goal is now to remain sober and develop skills. I want to give back to the community like Mobile Hope does.”
The celebrated wide receiver is no stranger to giving back to the communities that comprise the Commanders’ diehard fan base. For years, the Terry McLaurin Foundation has offered resources for disadvantaged youth, such as last year’s effort to provide hygiene products to students at Mount Vernon Community School.
McLaurin was named to the Pro Bowl this year, and fans have high hopes for the future of the franchise, led by the wide receiver and star quarterback Jayden Daniels. While the team gears up for a new season, giving back has also been a main focus for McLaurin.
Arienne Thompson Plourde, a global engagement lead with Google, said the company works to be a good corporate and community sponsor with Mobile Hope.
“I first encountered Mobile Hope a few years ago through a colleague. Once you know them, you become obsessed and you’re fully committed. That happened to me, and what was so critical, it happened to me on a personal level,” said Thompson Plourde, before celebrating the organization’s newest partnership. “Thank you so much, Terry, for being a partner on this.”
As CEO of Mobile Hope, Forter encourages anyone who can help out, to give back in the ways they can.
“Giving back isn’t hard: find an organization that people truly believe in and [step] up to offer resources or help,” she said, “it’s as simple as that and it means a lot to the organizations and kids we support.”
