(Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
Prior to being selected by the Steelers at 24th overall in this year's draft, Najee Harris threw a draft party for the kids and families at the Greater Richmond Interfaith Program, a homeless shelter that Harris and his family once lived at.
Harris signed his four-year, $13.1 million rookie deal last month and has the best-selling jersey among Steelers players, but he hasn't forgotten about his humble beginnings and is always looking to give back to his native Bay Area community.
Harris was back in the Bay Area yesterday to advocate for homeless people during Gov. Gavin Newsom’s press conference in Santa Clara.
Harris has a non-profit called “Da’ Bigger Picture Foundation,” which provides assistance to underserved families impacted by substantial education opportunities, homelessness and hunger.
“California is our people, and we are God’s people,” Harris said. “At the end of the day, [God is going to care about] what we’ve done to help the people. If we can do everything we can to help the people of California, and just anywhere in the world, and just play a part.”
Harris and Newsom were visiting one of the Project Homekey sites in Santa Clara to promote the program.
Project Homekey provides $600 million in grant funding will be made available to local public entities, including cities, counties, or other local public entities, including housing authorities or federally recognized tribal governments within California to purchase and rehabilitate housing, including hotels, motels, vacant apartment buildings, and other buildings and convert them into interim or permanent, long-term housing.
Harris also attended the San Francisco Giants-Oakland Athletics game yesterday at Oracle Park.