Tight end Pat Freiermuth grew up in a family filled with educators, including his parents Dianne and John Freiermuth, so when he was thinking about a way to give back to the community, the decision was easy.
This week he launched the Freiermuth Fund, with education front and center.
"My parents and are both educators, my brother is an educator, my sister-in-law is an educator," said Freiermuth. "Basically, everyone in my family are teachers. So, I wanted to give back to schools, specifically the teachers. I wanted to base this off giving to teachers in low-income areas the supplies and stuff needed to have a successful classroom for all the kids.
"Sometimes the low-income areas are forgotten and it's harder for kids to have the necessary tools to go on and be successful later in life. So just being able to help provide support for that, it's been big."
The mission of the Freiermuth Fund is to 'connect with students and teachers at every level who have big goals but may lack the resources to achieve them…from classroom supplies and technology to financial support.'
The Fund's goal is to provide students and educators with the tools necessary to succeed in the classroom and beyond. The plan is to provide classroom essentials and materials, including laptops, books and supplies.
"Growing up in the family I did, especially with my parents as educators, they played a major role in the importance of school," said Freiermuth. "Being successful in football in high school and college, they never allowed me to forget how important school is.
"If I can do my part to allow teachers to express that to the kids, how important school is, and help them succeed to be successful, then I'm doing something bigger than my impact on the field."
The Fund will also honor a Teacher of the Month in the Western Pennsylvania area, with winners selected from online nominations. The Fund will recognize outstanding educators who embody compassion, resilience, and leadership in the classroom. The winning teacher will receive $1,000 toward classroom supplies, a Steelers game day experience and Steelers merchandise. There will also be a season-ending winner who will receive a visit from Freiermuth to their classroom.
Freiermuth kicked things off earlier this week when he visited Clairton Elementary School, helping an area that has been through a lot over the past month.
Freiermuth worked in conjunction with the Education Partnership, who provide supplies to students and teachers in under-resourced schools across Southwestern Pennsylvania, to provide necessities for the Clairton students at an Adopt-A-School assembly.
Freiermuth distributed backpacks and school supplies to the students, bringing not just much needed items, but also plenty of laughter and joy.
"It's very special just seeing all the kids smile," said Freiermuth. "It's an exciting part of their day, and it's also an exciting part of my day. It's always fun to see their reaction, see the smiles when they get a new backpack and the school supplies. It means a lot because they are excited to see me there as well.
"I enjoy the opportunity to be able to give back."
Freiermuth also made a $10,000 donation to the Salvation Army of Western Pennsylvania, which is holding a fundraiser to support relief efforts in the aftermath of U. S. Steel's Clairton Coke Works explosion, which tragically took the lives of two people and injured more than 10 others earlier this month.
"I want to be able to help people as much as I can," said Freiermuth. "It's important to do our part."
Freiermuth himself showed the importance of education when he went back to school the last two years to earn his degree from Penn State, completing his mission this summer.
"It was great to get it done," said Freiermuth. "I had a lot of help with my academic advisor at Penn State, Todd Kulka. He did a great job getting me on track to graduate and it's just an awesome feeling."
Freiermuth left school early for the NFL Draft, but wanted to complete his education for multiple reasons, including making his mother proud.
He took 15 online courses during the spring and summer the last two years, earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Labor and Human Resources from Penn State's College of Liberal Arts.
Going back to school wasn't easy, but he welcomed the challenge.
"It was definitely pretty tough, but I got through it," said Freiermuth. "I was happy to see the smile on my mom's face that I did it."
