Hines Ward hosts a group of bi-racial kids from Korea as part of his Helping Hands Foundation.
Wide receiver Hines Ward has been invited to join the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders by President Barack Obama. Ward will be sworn in at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday.
The commission is working to get Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to take part in federal programs offered to them in multiple fields, including business and economic development.
"That's big. President Obama asked if I would be interested," said Ward. "They called me and asked if I would be on the board and I said of course. It's a great honor. Just that he reached out and offered me a spot on his committee means a lot. It's a huge honor to be a part of it."
Ward, whose mother is Korean and father is African-American, started the Hines Ward Helping Hands Foundation to fight discrimination against bi-racial children in Korea. He has made several offseason trips to Korea in support of it and hosts a group of bi-racial children in Pittsburgh every football season.
"My role is to give some input to how we can improve equality of Asian-Americans here in the States," said Ward. "That's what I have always been a part of. I am a true advocate of it. That's really what my foundation is based on. What better way to improve the confidence of kids who are mixed race.
"There will be different programs I will have insight into. It will be interesting to be a part of."
