In order to help the Las Vegas community, the Raiders’ tight end creates the Darren Waller Foundation
With the Darren Waller Foundation, the Las Vegas Raiders superstar tight end is helping at-risk youth in his new hometown of Las Vegas. Recently more than half a million dollars were raised to benefit the Darren Waller Foundation “Against the Wall” Program, which focuses on aiding the youth who are battling drug addiction.
On Monday, September 27, Waller sponsored the Darren Waller Foundation’s second annual fundraiser “Beyond the Wall”. It was located at the All In Aviation and Lone Mountain Aviation’s open-air hangar and presented by Olson Precast and Morgan Stanley,
Waller began the evening by making a $50,000 personal donation to the foundation. The fundraiser featured efforts in educating the Las Vegas youth about drug use prevention and assisting those who are suffering addiction. Four “Against the Wall” grants have been issued to date, according to Waller, and the beneficiaries are currently receiving treatment through Landmark Recovery, a local partner.
“I am humbled and beyond excited to see you all tonight and to see the support you have for me, the foundation, and those we are helping,” said Darren Waller. “Lives are being transformed because of your generosity.”
The issues at hand hits Waller personally, as he too has struggled with addiction. It nearly cost him his football career and his life. Sober since August 2017, when Waller traveled to Vegas to play with the Raiders, he noticed a problem with substance abuse amongst the Las Vegas youth.
According to his foundation’s website, 16.8% of Las Vegas adolescents aged 12 to 18 took an illegal substance in the previous year. The national average is 14.7 percent, so this is very significant. Every day in the United States, more than 3,600 children under the age of 18 experiment with illegal drugs.
Darren Waller is the foundation’s founder and president while Charlena Waller, Darren’s mother, serves as vice president. Established in 2020, the Darren Waller Foundation serves as a platform for the NFL star to share his personal experiences with drug abuse and to provide a safe haven for the Las Vegas youth.
For more information, please visit https://darrenwaller.org/ where you yourself can become a sponsor or volunteer for the Darren Waller Foundation.