NFL player Chris Long is giving back to the communities that have always been there for him

For NFL player Chris Long, being a professional athlete means more than just playing football. He is using his platform to raise awareness and support education equality, which he views as an essential component to building a better future for our country.

After donating his first six paychecks this season to create scholarships in his hometown of Charlottesville, Virginia, Long has pledged to donate his ten remaining game checks to four organizations dedicated to making education accessible for underserved youth. The organizations are based in Philadelphia, Boston, and St. Louis—the three cities Long has played for in his professional football career.

“I’m playing the entire 2017 NFL season without collecting income because I believe that education is the best gateway to a better tomorrow for everyone in America,” Long said in a statement.

This announcement also marked the launch of The Chris Long Foundation’s “Pledge 10 for Tomorrow” campaign, which allows people to donate money directly to these organizations throughout the remainder of the NFL season. People can make pledges to any of the three cities, and whichever city has the most pledges by the end will receive an additional $50,000 for its charity from Long himself.