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Paying it forward: Nece sparks cycle of giving

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By JOEY JOHNSTON

jjohnston@tampatrib.com

Published: June 26, 2009

Updated:

TAMPA - On June 9, former Bucs linebacker Ryan Nece invited about 60 supporters of his charitable foundation to an evening at Mise en Place, a Tampa restaurant. The routine stuff was expected - cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, networking, Nece thanking people for their support, the requisite contributions to the foundation and everyone speeding back to their normal lives.

But it wasn't like that.

"I wanted to do something a little different," said Nece, who played last season with the Detroit Lions.

Each person in the group, which included Tampa Bay business and civic leaders and assorted professional athletes, was handed an envelope with a "Power of Giving" logo.

Inside was $55.

Nece, who wore No. 55 last season with the Lions, told everyone to use the money to help someone who needed it. Try to make the cash multiply. Be creative. Pay it forward. Get others involved. And to inspire others, please explain your actions with a blog entry on the Ryan Nece Foundation Web site ( www.ryannece.com).

"It's such a simple concept, and we all feel good when we give back," Nece said. "But truthfully, I can't believe the response. It's lighting a fire inside me."

It's nine o'clock at night, and as I sit here at my computer, I feel wide awake. ... I'm rubbing my eyes and they feel sore, my body aches and I just want to lie on the couch, but yet I feel so alive inside. And the more I think about it, the more I realize that my spirit is alive. I'm constantly thinking about all the amazing things people are doing to make a difference in someone else's life. The more I think about it, the more energy I feel. The more I eagerly anticipate what tomorrow holds and the positive impact that's being made all over.

Nece, who donated $4,000 of his money to stuff the $55 envelopes, is essentially unemployed. He was released by the Lions in the offseason and hopes to find a new team, but there have been no offers yet.

In the meantime, just like his foundation that recognizes young Good Samaritans, he is doing something that could prove to be much more powerful.

A few months ago, Nece was moved by a sermon he heard in church. It was about the modern world of strangers who should be getting to know their neighbors. Even more, the pastor said, we should always support our neighbors, especially in times of need.

Nece instantly remembered one of his favorite movies - "Pay It Forward" - about a 12-year-old schoolboy (played by Haley Joel Osment) who is given an idealistic assignment by his social studies teacher (Kevin Spacey). Find a way to change the world through a direct action.

The boy initiates a plan to help three people with a good deed. They must in turn do good deeds for three people of their own, a pyramid of kindness that continues to pay it forward.

Ryan,

This Thursday, friends and family will gather at my home and watch the movie "Pay It Forward" with Christina - after which she will be presented with the information that a month of her college dorm and a month of the meal plan has been paid for through a Pay It Forward movement started by you.

Thanks to your gift, a young lady who thought she was going off to college unsure of how she would pay and knowing it was all on her own ... now has a month to get situated and feel the love and kindness she bestowed on her sister now in the most unexpected way given back to her.

Thank you.

Giving back.

Nece said it's so simple.

"Yet, how often do we do something like that?" he said. "We're all so caught up in our lives. And these days, with the economy, we're all bombarded by such negativity. We're all in tough times.

"The idea is to step away from your own life, do something for others and watch it grow. Imagine how you can help someone else. I was a little nervous about it because all of these people have supported the foundation, but nobody really knew why they were invited to this. The juices were really flowing. People were thinking. They were lingering, not wanting to leave. It's exciting."

Before leaving June 9, one man said he was going to spend his $55 on postage stamps. He would then write friends and acquaintances, imploring them to help others with a financial donation.

Nece's mind raced all through the night. When he woke up, he stopped for gas. He noticed a woman struggling to load packages into her car. An onlooker, a lawn-care worker, stopped his activity and helped, not leaving until the woman was on her way.

Nece approached the man and handed him $20. At first, the man refused. "No, you don't understand," Nece said. "I want you to use this money. You helped someone else."

The man brightened and said, "You know, I did need some extra money to cover my gas expenses today. I wasn't sure where I was going to get it. It's kind of a coincidence this happened."

Coincidence?

A man walked into the doctor's office after me and he whispered to the receptionist that he couldn't pay because he just didn't have the money. He said, "All I have is $10 to my name" and he reached in his wallet and handed it to her. ... I made a detour to the office manager and told her I wanted to help, but I wanted it to be anonymous. She arranged to give the man the money, with a simple message from me about the Power of Giving - that there are people out there who care and things will get better.

As I walked into the exam room for my appointment, I burst into tears. ... But I realized the tears were because I was ashamed of myself. I am so blessed in my life - healthy family, good job, nice home - but sometimes, I still let petty things get to me instead of being appreciative and grateful.

As I left the office, the manager pulled me aside and said, "Thank you. You just turned what was a pretty crummy day into a great day." ... That's the real greatness of the Power of Giving. ... Even the smallest gestures count.

Nece has been a philanthropist since arriving in Tampa as an undrafted free agent from UCLA in 2002. He was on Tampa Bay's Super Bowl XXXVII championship team, but he suffered a season-ending injury in October. After that, he became a fixture at outside linebacker and on special teams.

"So many people have helped me in my career, and I've always felt compelled to give back," said Nece, 30.

He thought the Lions would represent a new beginning last season. Instead, he endured Detroit's 0-16 nightmare.

"I think it's harder to go 0-16 than to do what the Patriots did and go 16-0," Nece said. "It's frustrating when you're part of winning a Super Bowl, then you're on a team that can't win one game.

"People told me, 'Man, after playing in Tampa, it must have seemed cold outside in Detroit.' Well, it was cold outside and it was cold inside. I can't wait to sign with another team, but there's only so much you can control. I can't worry about it because you're at the mercy of other coaches and general managers. No matter what, Tampa is still going to be my home because this town has done so much for me."

Nece, in turn, has done plenty for this town.

That was clear June 9, when Tampa's movers and shakers were moved to action. Who knows where it might lead?

I was so excited by the concept that we had a corporate meeting this morning and decided to incorporate the power of giving in all of our automobile dealerships. We are not advertising this, however, when you take delivery of a car, we are giving the client an envelope with $55 in it. Inside the envelope will be Ryan's instructions.

We did it three times today already ... and the clients were amazed. They were all discussing how they were going to distribute the money with the sales manager.

Great job, Ryan. You are truly a special person. I hope it catches on around the rest of the country.

Reporter Joey Johnston can be reached at (813) 259-7353.

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