Former Ravens Donates $500 Million to Josh Hines-Allen’s Charity

September 3, 2025 – Jacksonville, FL
Today, former Baltimore Ravens quarterback and Virginia Tech star Tyrod Taylor announced a monumental $500 million donation to the charitable foundation of Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen. The gift celebrates the victory of Hines-Allen’s 7-year-old son, Wesley, over acute myeloid leukemia, while also honoring Taylor’s hometown of Hampton, Virginia, and Blacksburg, Virginia, where he launched his football career at Virginia Tech.

Wesley was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in early 2025. After seven months of treatment, he rang the victory bell at a Jacksonville hospital, marking his remission.

“Our whole family rang the bell together. Wesley beat cancer, and we want to turn that victory into hope for other families,” Hines-Allen shared on X, alongside photos of his family at the hospital.

Taylor, who led Virginia Tech to an ACC Championship and later won Super Bowl XLVII with the Ravens in 2013, stunned the NFL community with his contribution. The foundation supports pediatric cancer research and provides aid to families with critically ill children.

“I was born and raised in Hampton, Virginia, and Blacksburg is where I began my football journey at Virginia Tech,” Taylor said. “This gift is to celebrate the strength of young Wesley and to lift up the other children in Josh’s program. They are as resilient as the spirit of the Ravens—always fighting, always rising in the hardest moments.”

The donation will fund the creation of the Wesley Hines-Allen Pediatric Cancer Center in Hampton, Virginia, in partnership with local hospitals and medical organizations. The center will focus on research, treatment, and direct family support across the Tidewater region and nationwide.

Hampton, Virginia, Taylor’s hometown, is a tight-knit Tidewater city with a proud sports tradition. At Hampton High School, Taylor posted a 34–4 record before moving on to Virginia Tech, where he became ACC Player of the Year (2010) and cemented his place as one of the Hokies’ greatest quarterbacks.

“Hampton gave me my identity, and Virginia Tech gave me my chance to shine,” Taylor said. “I want to give back to both by supporting Josh Hines-Allen’s mission, bringing hope to children and families battling cancer.”

“Tyrod Taylor is an icon of Virginia and the NFL. His gift will not only change the lives of thousands of children but also inspire all of us,” Hines-Allen wrote on X.

The foundation will use the donation to expand financial assistance programs, provide advanced medical equipment, and fund pediatric cancer research at Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville and at facilities across Virginia.

Taylor’s $500 million donation ranks among the largest philanthropic gestures in NFL history, following in the footsteps of other legendary players like Jason Gildon. The communities of Hampton and Virginia Tech are planning a tribute event in fall 2025 to honor Taylor, Wesley, and Hines-Allen. The celebration will include a charity exhibition game at Virginia Tech to raise additional funds.

The bond between Taylor and Hines-Allen—two sons of Virginia, one from Hampton, the other from Cumberland County—underscores the unity and service that NFL athletes can bring to their communities.

“This is how we turn personal victories into shared hope,” Taylor concluded.