Recently retired NFL linebacker, Jordan Hicks, and his foundation,
True Strength Ability Awareness, donated resources on Tuesday for students with special needs at three
schools in Hicks’ hometown of Cincinnati: Lakota West High School in West Chester, Ross High School in
Hamilton, and Heritage Early Childhood School in Liberty Township.
At Heritage Early Childhood School, Hicks delivered new art supplies and a sensory rocker in partnership
with Lakeshore Learning. The art materials will help young learners with special needs express
themselves creatively while building fine motor skills, and the rocker will provide calming motion to
support focus, regulation, and comfort in the classroom.
Hicks visited his alma mater high school, Lakota West High School, and Ross High School to deliver
massage chairs for each school’s sensory room. Sensory rooms provide a safe, decompressing space for
students with special needs to take a break when needed. The donated massage chairs will help reduce
stress and anxiety so students can re-enter the classroom ready to learn.
Hicks, who announced his retirement from the NFL earlier this year after ten seasons, said returning
home to give back was especially meaningful.
“This community shaped me into the person I am today, and I’m grateful to be able to return and give
back in a way that supports students with special needs,” said Hicks. “True Strength is about creating
opportunities and resources for kids to thrive, no matter their abilities.”
The donations were funded in part by True Strength Nights hosted last school year at Lakota West and
Ross. True Strength Nights bring students and community members together to celebrate inclusion and
raise money for local special education programs. Students with special needs are honored at and
incorporated into school sporting events, and the whole student body raises funds for their school’s
special education department.
Hicks and his foundation partnered with a dozen schools last year to host True Strength Nights and are
hoping to host even more this year. Teachers, coaches and athletic directors can sign up to host a True
Strength Night at truestrengthawareness.org.
About True Strength Ability Awareness
NFL linebacker Jordan Hicks established True Strength Ability Awareness in 2024. The foundation unites
students and communities in celebrating Ability Awareness. Through corporate sponsorships, the
foundation aims to fund and empower local Special Education departments to provide much-needed
resources for facility upgrades, life skill programs, and initiatives that promote inclusion and
engagement. To learn more or get involved, visit truestrengthawareness.org.
True Strength Ability Awareness is a project of Players Philanthropy Fund, Inc., a Texas nonprofit
corporation recognized by IRS as a tax-exempt public charity under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code (Federal Tax ID: 27-6601178, ppf.org/pp). Contributions to True Strength Ability
Awareness qualify as tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
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