Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Keisean Nixon returned to his hometown of Compton to host a backpack giveaway to help young students for the upcoming school year. Along with receiving free school supplies, families were also given free food through the United Hands of Compton food bank.
Students were given several items including backpacks, notebooks, erasers, and pencils. Families also received fresh produce and canned goods among other types of food.
For Nixon to give back to his hometown is “indicative of [his] experience here in the community,” according to the Compton Unified School District (CUSD) governing board vice president Satra Zurita.
“The greatest compliment that we can have in this community today is having our son Keisean Nixon to come back and do a backpack giveaway,” Zurita said. “This is so important.”
Nixon partnered with Zurita and Compton councilman Isaac Galvan to create the event. Raiders safety Johnathan Abram and former WWE superstar Chavo Guerrero were also in attendance to give autographs to parents and children.
(Amanda Scurlock/L.A. Sentinel)
“This is our eighth year doing the event right here and every year it gets bigger and bigger,” Galvan said. “It’s just a blessing that we get to team up with great people like Keisean Nixon, John Abrams, and my good friend Chavo Guerrero as well to give back to the community.”
Being able to give back is something that Nixon does not take for granted. He wanted to see the students he impacted in person.
“Spending time and showing my face is way more important than just cutting a check and sending money,” Nixon said. “I know these kids will remember this for the rest of their life.”
Nixon was awarded with a plaque from the City of Compton and a certificate from CUSD. Galvan also presented him with the Compton Community Champion Award for his efforts.
“You got to give back to where you came from,” Guerrero said. “It’s really cool to give back to the community.”
Abram recently hosted a football camp and school supply giveaway and was happy to visit Compton to show his support.
“For me, it’s just the chance to give back,” Abram said. “I’m big on education.”
Students will also have access to free eye exams. Compton Unified has been working to ensure students have a positive learning experience. CUSD schools gave their students tablets and iPads, helping them excel when they had virtual classes.
“We made sure long before the pandemic that our kids all had devices,” Zurita said. “We had made that an initiative a few years ago.”
CUSD also partnered with Verizon to give 500 families Wi-Fi so students can learn during the pandemic. Compton High School is also being rebuilt so students can have state-of-the-art learning facilities.
“I’m a Compton High alumni and I say our kids deserve bigger, brighter, better,” Zurita said. “They deserve new science labs, they deserve bright campuses.”
After enduring the challenges that the pandemic caused, Compton leaders are elated to have professional athletes help them conquer the problems that face the city.
“Communities if color, like the City of Compton, were hit the hardest,” Galvan said. “It just feels good to give back to the people and make sure that our kids go back to school fully equipped to conquer the classroom.”
