Texans Pro Bowl offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil, in partnership with Gracewood, through his company, Divine Tree, surprised 15 single mothers and their children with a shopping spree and a holiday party.
Growing up in Florida, the Pro Bowl blocker and former Miami Dolphins first-round draft pick was raised by a single mother. She worked three jobs to provide for Tunsil and his brother, Alex Weber.
Tunsil, in partnership with Ashley HomeStore, AK Law Firm and Walmart and assisted by Legacy Philanthropy, held a $5,000 shopping spree at Walmart followed by a surprise holiday party that included gifts and a gourmet dinner from Eddie V’s Prime Seafood.
The motto for Tunsil’s company with business manager Laolu Sanni, is “the gift that keeps giving.
“I’ve seen my mother struggle on the holidays trying to provide for us and give us gifts,” Tunsil said. “Even though it wasn’t much it meant a lot to me. I always admired her hard work and dedication as a single mother. So, for those reasons I wanted to do something special for other single mothers to help lighten their burdens the way I wanted to help my mother when I was younger.”
Gracewood is a nonprofit organization that rescues children and their single mothers, ensuring a bright future by providing home, hope, and healing. They accomplish this by empowering families through Christian ministry designed to provide housing, mentoring, teaching, financial planning, counseling, and access to community resources..
Gracewood president Vinicia White said: “Hope, dignity, rising above poverty. This is the real impact for single mother families because of the partnership with Laremy Tunsil. Genuine and supportive acts of love inspire single mother families to reclaim their future. Laremy saying ‘Yes!’ to Gracewood families this Christmas tells them, 'I believe in you! You have what it takes, keep doing the work. That support transforms lives. Gracewood is honored to partner with Laremy in our shared commitment to empower single mother families to rise above life’s hardships."
Added Ashley HomeStore community coordinator Brittany Graham: “Here at Ashley HomeStore, we understand that being a single mother is twice the work, but it is also twice the love. We are in awe of the power and strength a single mother has. We also fully believe that family begins and ends at “home,” and we are on a mission to support and strengthen homes - no matter what they may look like. We are thrilled to partner with our friend, Laremy, to love on these amazing families this holiday season.”
Andrew Kumar, lead attorney at AK Law Firm said: “As a community, we should be taking care of each other at all times. When people are going through the hardest times in their lives is when they need us the most. This is why we want to continue to help the community and great organizations like Gracewood. It is the same reason we take care of our community when they are involved in a car accident. You need people to help you get through that very difficult time in your life. We take pride in being there for the community and being known as “our injury lawyers.”
Walmart store manager Yolanda Preston said: “We are grateful to be a part of such a wonderful gift-giving event this holiday season. Laremy Tunsil is setting an excellent example in giving back to underserved communities in the Houston area and we are looking forward to spreading holiday cheer with him.”