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BREAKING: Kirby Smart Donates Entire $6 Million Bonus and Endorsement Earnings to Georgia-Based Charities and Homelessness Support Programs
In a defining moment of character and compassion, University of Georgia head football coach Kirby Smart has announced the donation of his entire $6 million in postseason bonuses and endorsement income to charitable organizations across the state of Georgia. The funds will go toward initiatives fighting homelessness, food insecurity, youth hardship, and mental health challenges—issues that continue to affect communities statewide.
Smart, who has led the Georgia Bulldogs to multiple national championships and solidified the program as a modern powerhouse within the SEC and college football at large, made the announcement just days after clinching another trip to the College Football Playoff. While headlines have often celebrated his competitive success, this gesture has struck a deeper chord across the college athletics world.
“I’ve been blessed beyond anything I could’ve imagined,” Smart said in a statement released by the university. “This program, this state, and these people have given me so much. It’s only right that I do something that can make a lasting impact for those who need it most. Wins are great—but changing lives, that’s something even more meaningful.”
The $6 million will be distributed among a network of Georgia-based nonprofits, including those that provide emergency shelter and housing services, community food banks, youth mentorship programs, and trauma-informed mental health care for at-risk families. A portion will also fund educational support for underserved rural communities across Georgia.
University of Georgia President Jere Morehead praised the decision, calling it “a reflection of the values we strive to uphold at this institution—service, integrity, and leadership.” Athletic Director Josh Brooks echoed the sentiment, saying, “Kirby’s legacy isn’t just built in Sanford Stadium. It’s being built across Georgia—in schools, shelters, and the lives of people he may never meet.”
The donation has been met with praise across the SEC and beyond, with former players, rival coaches, and national media commending Smart for using his platform not only to coach young men, but to lead by example.
As the Bulldogs prepare for their next championship run, Kirby Smart has reminded the world that being a head coach at Georgia isn’t just about football—it’s about being a steward of change, a servant to the community, and a model for what true leadership in college athletics looks like.
