Ray Davis participates in luggage drive to support foster care system

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Kentucky football's Ray Davis on Media Day

Ray Davis is attempting to use his new platform to help others in need. The former All-SEC tailback at Kentucky was a fourth-round pick of the Buffalo Bills in the 2024 NFL Draft and is preparing for his rookie season. Before that arrives, Davis has partnered with Fostering Greatness to help kids in the Foster Care System.

On Thursday, a luggage drive was held in Western New York in an effort to provide a sense of home to kids in the foster system.

"That's going to change the trajectory of foster care."

Buffalo #Bills RB Ray Davis has partnered up with Fostering Greatness Inc. in hopes of changing the narratives surrounding foster care

On Thursday they held a luggage drive, and it means so much more than you can imagine pic.twitter.com/GoyIm0No94
— Dom Tibbetts (@DomTibbettsTV) May 24, 2024

“Having a suitcase or luggage is very important because that’s a sense of being at home,” Davis told reporters at Thursday’s Fostering Greatness Luggage Drive. “It’s a sense of knowing where you’re going, you’re going to be there for a long time.”

“Being a foster care alumni and going through the things that I went through, knowing the voice I have. I want to go out there and be an advocate for the kids who don’t have voices. To be able to be an inspiration and let them know that this is a reality, that you can make it.”

Ray Davis spent multiple years in the foster care system in San Francisco before moving to New Jersey in high school. Once there, the tailback started his career at Temple before spending three seasons in the SEC playing for Vanderbilt and Kentucky. Davis finished his collegiate career with 3,626 rushing yards and 41 total touchdowns. In 2023, Davis set the Kentucky program record for single-season touchdowns (21). Now the tailback will be taking handoffs from Josh Allen in Buffalo.

Dr. Leah Ann Daniel, founder of Fostering Greatness, says having someone like Davis who has found success after going through foster care can make a real impact on young people.

A lot of times people who have gone through the foster care system they’re ‘shame associated’ with it so they don’t share their story,” says Dr. Angel Daniel. “Especially those who are successful. But to now have that. It’s going to change the trajectory of foster care in general.”

Ray Davis is quickly making an impact on his new community.