FSU football players join Keep Climbing Foundation, Second Harvest in effort to help families
In six weeks, FSU quarterback Tommy Castellanos will be inside Doak Campbell Stadium looking to throw passes to wide receiver Duce Robinson and hand the ball off the running back Gavin Sawchuk, as the Seminoles open the 2025 season against Alabama.
On Tuesday afternoon, those three FSU players — and more than a dozen others — were outside of Doak Campbell, providing a helping hand to Tallahassee residents who might not be as fortunate.
With the school year beginning in just a few weeks, scores of local families and their children turned out to FSU’s Langford Green to take part in a charitable outreach event hosted by the Keep Climbing Family Foundation, Second Harvest of the Big Bend and FSU’s Food For Thought Pantry.
The first 150 children who arrived were given free backpacks provided by Keep Climbing, the charitable organization founded by FSU football coach Mike Norvell and his wife, Maria.
Each backpack was filled with an assortment of school supplies, and they were actually prepared by Maria and the Norvells’ young daughter, Mila, as well as family members of other FSU coaches. And even though it was not a Florida State football event, a group of players came out after their morning workouts to help distribute the goods and even carry boxes and bags of food to people’s vehicles.
“It’s all voluntary, and they’re doing great,” Maria Norvell said of the players. “Tommy’s even going through the line taking pictures with the kids. It’s awesome.”
Players observed volunteering at the event Tuesday included Castellanos, Robinson, Sawchuk, OL Richie Leonard, DB Ashlynd Barker, LB Justin Cryer, WR BJ Gibson, WR Jayvan Boggs, DB Shamar Arnoux, WR Willy Suarez, RB Zay Parks, OL Chastan Brown, QB Michael Grant, K Jake Weinberg, DB Donny Hiebert, QB Gavin Markey and TE Greyson Labiad.
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With help from its community partners, Second Harvest provided food for all of the residents who turned out. And several members of the FSU football support staff lent a hand as well.
This is one of a number of events the Keep Climbing Family Foundation coordinates each year. In the winter, they provide coats to hundreds of students at local elementary schools, and they also support various other causes.
While the primary objective is to help others in the community, Maria Norvell said she also loves to see the benefits these events bring to the FSU players and even her own daughter.
“It’s awesome,” Maria said. “She loves stuffing the backpacks. She loves helping serve others. I love to see it.”
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