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PROVIDENCE – The business of football will resume soon enough. Saturday was personal for Kwity Paye.
The former standout at Bishop Hendricken was back in his home city for an event with his Paye Family Foundation. Paye hosted upwards of 100 kids at Providence Place Mall for an afternoon of back-to-school activities that included distribution of supplies, backpacks, water bottles and laptops.
Paye walked through the double doors of a private function room at Dave & Buster’s to a warm welcome. Children and family members had already arrived from the Providence Church of Christ and were digging into an early lunch. Paye also sponsored free video games and activities on the arcade floor following the more formal portion of the event.
“It’s nice being able to do it for my people, for my church, all my family members,” Paye said. “It’s just something that I always wanted to do my whole life – give back to my community. These people raised me.”
Paye’s family fled civil war in Liberia before he was born in a refugee camp in Guinea. His mother, Agnes, left West Africa for Providence with multiple family members when Paye was just an infant. Paye lived in the city through his college years, exploding to stardom in multiple sports with the Hawks and eventually accepting a scholarship offer from Michigan.
“I always wanted to do a foundation,” Paye said. “That was always my goal and my dream. It took a little while – I've got the right group around me now.”
Paye received postseason recognition twice from the Big Ten during his four years with the Wolverines. He was a first-round NFL Draft pick by the Indianapolis Colts in 2021, tabbed by a team that had reached the playoffs in two of the previous three years. Paye totaled 30.5 sacks and 37 tackles for loss in 75 games with the Colts, a tenure as an edge rusher that spanned five years.
“I want to be that beacon of hope, of inspiration,” Paye said. “It’s just showing the kids it’s possible – not just in athletics. Education-wise they need the support.”
Paye entered free agency for the first time in the offseason as a 27-year-old after reaching the end of his rookie contract with Indianapolis. He agreed to a three-year, $48-million deal with the Las Vegas Raiders that included more than $31 million in guaranteed money and more than $10 million in signing bonus. Paye is part of a significant incoming class for the Raiders that includes quarterback Kirk Cousins, center Tyler Linderbaum and linebackers Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean.
“I knew I was going to land somewhere,” Paye said. “It was more the best fit for me in my career going into the best years of my career. You don’t want it to be wasted with someone.”
Paye shares a pair of connections with one member of the current ownership group in Las Vegas. Tom Brady is a fellow Michigan graduate and helped shape Paye’s childhood fandom while capturing six Super Bowl titles with the New England Patriots. Brady’s presence with the Raiders helped lend some credibility to their offseason pursuits over the past few months.
“I grew up rooting for Tom Brady and his success being a New England guy,” Paye said. “Now I’m playing for a team that he partly owns – full-circle moment. You can see his influence this year.”
Paye’s foundation is geared toward helping students and young athletes in the communities where he's lived and played, and Saturday’s event was held in conjunction with Legacy Philanthropy. This type of support helped put him on the field in the city and get him to Bishop Hendricken, where his No. 1 was retired in June 2024. Paye's professional and charitable work follows the example of fellow Hawks alum Will Blackmon, a two-time Super Bowl winner who played 10 seasons in the NFL from 2006-16.
[email protected]
On X: @BillKoch25
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Kwity Paye donates school supplies to 100 children in Providence
Continue reading...
The former standout at Bishop Hendricken was back in his home city for an event with his Paye Family Foundation. Paye hosted upwards of 100 kids at Providence Place Mall for an afternoon of back-to-school activities that included distribution of supplies, backpacks, water bottles and laptops.
Paye walked through the double doors of a private function room at Dave & Buster’s to a warm welcome. Children and family members had already arrived from the Providence Church of Christ and were digging into an early lunch. Paye also sponsored free video games and activities on the arcade floor following the more formal portion of the event.
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“It’s nice being able to do it for my people, for my church, all my family members,” Paye said. “It’s just something that I always wanted to do my whole life – give back to my community. These people raised me.”
Paye’s family fled civil war in Liberia before he was born in a refugee camp in Guinea. His mother, Agnes, left West Africa for Providence with multiple family members when Paye was just an infant. Paye lived in the city through his college years, exploding to stardom in multiple sports with the Hawks and eventually accepting a scholarship offer from Michigan.
“I always wanted to do a foundation,” Paye said. “That was always my goal and my dream. It took a little while – I've got the right group around me now.”
Paye received postseason recognition twice from the Big Ten during his four years with the Wolverines. He was a first-round NFL Draft pick by the Indianapolis Colts in 2021, tabbed by a team that had reached the playoffs in two of the previous three years. Paye totaled 30.5 sacks and 37 tackles for loss in 75 games with the Colts, a tenure as an edge rusher that spanned five years.
You must be registered for see images
“I want to be that beacon of hope, of inspiration,” Paye said. “It’s just showing the kids it’s possible – not just in athletics. Education-wise they need the support.”
Paye entered free agency for the first time in the offseason as a 27-year-old after reaching the end of his rookie contract with Indianapolis. He agreed to a three-year, $48-million deal with the Las Vegas Raiders that included more than $31 million in guaranteed money and more than $10 million in signing bonus. Paye is part of a significant incoming class for the Raiders that includes quarterback Kirk Cousins, center Tyler Linderbaum and linebackers Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean.
“I knew I was going to land somewhere,” Paye said. “It was more the best fit for me in my career going into the best years of my career. You don’t want it to be wasted with someone.”
You must be registered for see images attach
Paye shares a pair of connections with one member of the current ownership group in Las Vegas. Tom Brady is a fellow Michigan graduate and helped shape Paye’s childhood fandom while capturing six Super Bowl titles with the New England Patriots. Brady’s presence with the Raiders helped lend some credibility to their offseason pursuits over the past few months.
“I grew up rooting for Tom Brady and his success being a New England guy,” Paye said. “Now I’m playing for a team that he partly owns – full-circle moment. You can see his influence this year.”
Paye’s foundation is geared toward helping students and young athletes in the communities where he's lived and played, and Saturday’s event was held in conjunction with Legacy Philanthropy. This type of support helped put him on the field in the city and get him to Bishop Hendricken, where his No. 1 was retired in June 2024. Paye's professional and charitable work follows the example of fellow Hawks alum Will Blackmon, a two-time Super Bowl winner who played 10 seasons in the NFL from 2006-16.
[email protected]
On X: @BillKoch25
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Kwity Paye donates school supplies to 100 children in Providence
Continue reading...
