This past Friday I had the privilege of photographing a shopping trip for the Moran Norris Foundation. Moran and his wife Tamera formed the foundation to help disadvantaged kids in the Houston area. Although Moran is a fullback for the San Francisco 49ers, he and his family still reside in Houston for at least part of the year and this is one of the ways he gives back to the community that he grew up in. Moran also throws a youth football camp in the summer for the kids.

For this particular event, 25 kids from 4 different local middle schools were chosen based on good character to get to go on a shopping spree to Super Target on Main. Each of the 100 total students was given a gift card for $100 to spend as they wished. I want to say that each and every one of them bought a little something for their mothers as mothers day was the following Sunday. Did I mention they were all chosen based on good character? The kids bought anything and everything from clothes, to computer games, shoes, toys, cosmetics, you name it. Target does have some pretty awesome stuff for sure! After the shopping was done, the kids met in a conference room in the back to chill and eat pizza while Moran and Tamara congratulated them on their successes in school and encouraged them to reach for the stars.

This is a little quote from Moran’s web site and I think it about sums him up

“Pay Now – Pay attention in class, do more than the given assignment, desire to learn more, participate in extracurricular activities, volunteer.

Play later – Travel the world, entertain, become president of the United States, make a touchdown in whatever you do.”