New rules let K-State linebacker earn money for charity. He’s raised 11 times his goal
When the NCAA began allowing college athletes to start profiting off their name, image and likeness earlier this year, it opened the door for more than just endorsement deals with car dealerships and restaurants.
It also allowed student-athletes to use their platforms for charity.
Not long ago, it was against NCAA eligibility rules for college athletes to collect donations from boosters and fans for any reason, even if they intended to give away the money they raised to a good cause. But now that those days are over, college football players like Kansas State linebacker Ryan Henington can ask for all the help they want.
Henington did exactly that earlier this week when he started a GoFundMe page in hopes of raising $1,000 dollars so he and a handful of his K-State teammates could take children in the Manhattan area shopping for Christmas toys.
His campaign raised more than $11,500 in two days.
“My teammates and I wanted to use our platform to give back this holiday season,” Henington wrote on the page he created. “We’ve partnered with local organizations to help identify families in the community who we would like to support. Our plan is to raise money and take kids shopping on a set budget so they can have an incredible Christmas and have an opportunity to meet some K-State Football players.”
It appears he will be able to help more children than he originally planned.
Henington is a 6-foot-1 senior from Junction City. He arrived at K-State as a walk-on quarterback but ended up making his mark on defense, switching positions to safety and eventually linebacker.
This was his most productive season in purple. He made 21 tackles and had two quarterback hurries for the Wildcats this season. He has been named to the Big 12’s all-academic team three times during his college career.
This story was originally published December 10, 2021 at 1:59 PM with the headline "New rules let K-State linebacker earn money for charity. He’s raised 11 times his goal."