JuJu Smith-Schuster said he knows what it’s like to suffer, and how that is only compounded during the holiday season. It’s why the Steelers receiver recently gave $25,000 to pay for items in layaway at stores in Compton, California, and Pittsburgh.
“I am truly blessed to be able to give back to families in Pittsburgh and California during the holidays,” Smith-Schuster said according to Sports Illustrated. “We hope paying off these layaway balances will cause a sense of relief and lift the spirit of all of these families.”
The 24-year-old teamed up with Pay Away the Layaway. He paid for the items of 170 needy families during the drive-up events. His family helped him during the event, including his mother. That was very important to him as she had struggled to make ends meet when he was a child.
“I’ve been there, I know what it feels like. I know what it feels like to not make Christmas happen for your kids,” his mom Sammy Schuster said, according to ABC7. “So, this hits home for me. That’s why we started the JuJu Foundation, so we can give hope, we can give Christmas, we can give love to families who are in need.”
Pay Away the Layaway Founder Lee Karchawer said in a press release that 2020 has been difficult for families. Affording Christmas was difficult for many of them.
“This has been an especially difficult year for so many families. Our mission at Pay Away the Layaway is to inspire hope and spread kindness, so what better way to kick off the holiday season than by surprising these families with the gifts they had on layaway for their kids?” Karchawer said. “Every child deserves to smile on Christmas.”
Smith-Schuster and the Steelers take on the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.
JuJu Smith-Schuster Promises to Stop Dancing
Smith-Schuster promised recently that he would stop posting TikTok videos featuring him dancing on opposing teams’ logos. The Steelers wide receiver has courted controversy recently with the videos, but no more, he promised on Wednesday.
“For the betterment of myself and my teammates, I’m going to stop dancing on the logos.” JuJu Smith-Schuster
Smith-Schuster posted a video of himself dancing on the Bills logo several weeks ago. The Bills didn’t appreciate the gesture. The Bills won that game, and some players said Smith-Schuster’s video fueled them to step up their game.
He did it again against the Bengals, who made him pay for it with a massive hit during the game. The Steelers lost that game as well.
The Steelers ended a three-game losing streak with a 28-24 win over the Colts yesterday.
