Tommy Bohanon and his wife, Katie (right), present Oasis High School with $2,500 in grant money for athletic equipment through the Tommy Bohanon Foundation. The foundation provided six different schools with grant dollars totaling $40,000. CJ HADDAD

The foundation of a former NFL player has once again stepped up to give back to schools throughout Southwest Florida.

The Tommy Bohanon Foundation, started by the former NFL fullback and North Fort Myers High School graduate, along with his wife, Katie, traveled to local high schools on Tuesday to present grant money for athletic programs.

The Bohanons traveled to Oasis High School, Mariner High School, Island Coast High School, North Fort Myers High School, Dunbar High School and Riverdale High School, where they presented checks totaling $40,000.

“The grant money goes towards various things,” Bohanon said. “It’s different sports programs for each high school. Some may be for shoulder pads, some could be used for renovations and different things like that. It was for whatever the school needed.”

On the foundation’s website, Southwest Florida schools can apply for grant dollars, outlining what their pressing needs are.

Oasis High School Athletic Director Michael O’Brien said it was “terrific” that the Bohanon family has created its foundation and is giving back to the community. He said Oasis is in need of football helmets, and that the $2,500 check presented to the school would go towards that new equipment.

“We’ll be able to utilize every cent of that money,” O’Brien said. “We appreciate the foundation and all they do for families. What I see them do in the community — and now we’re a part of that — it makes it even more special to us.”

Having up-to-date equipment in many sports, especially in contact sports such as football, is paramount for the safety of student-athletes. Bohanon said he remembers having to use old and outdated equipment, and being able to provide what may not have otherwise been afforded to these student-athletes is a great feeling.

“It’s incredible to be able to give back, and give back in a huge way,” Bohanon said. “It’s something that (my wife and I) always strived to do, and now we’re in the position to truly make a difference here in Southwest Florida. That’s really our goal is to make that difference for these kids. It means a whole lot to us and is truly special.

“The safer a kid can feel, the better they can perform, and the less injuries they’ll suffer. We want to do all we can to keep these kids safe and help them be productive on and off the field.

Since the foundation’s inception in 2017, over $350,000 has been donated back into the Southwest Florida community through scholarships, sports equipment grants, community projects and donations for worthy causes that positively impact the members of the region.

Up next for the foundation is its annual Softball Tournament Toy Drive on Nov. 27. For more information on the foundation, upcoming events, and what they do, visit www.tommybohanonfoundation.org.

— Connect with Associate Sports Editor CJ Haddad on Twitter @haddad_cj