Last week, Randy Moss, star receiver for the NFL’s New England Patriots returned to Eastern Kanawha County, West Virginia where he got his start on the gridiron. While he was prone to trouble in his youth, he has spent much of his professional career trying to help others avoid similar pitfalls.

Moss has given back to his community a great deal, through a school supply drive, Christmas presents for children in need, and video games for children in Kanawha Valley hospitals. And now his latest effort, a refurbished DuPont Middle School field house, complete with state-of-the-art new lockers, a new player’s lounge with a big-screen TV, and improvements in the weight room, the coaches’ office, the restrooms and the laundry room, has energized the community.

While perhaps slightly excessive for those in middle school :-), still a good, noteworthy contribution that will help young men in the community stay on the field and out of trouble.

You can read the full story by Jim Workman published at the Charleston Daily Mail at http://www.dailymail.com/ap/ApTopStories/200911140394, with an excerpt below.

(Excerpt)

NFL’s Randy Moss give back to community

BELLE, W.Va. (AP) – Locally, Randy Moss has signed autographs, made donations, started a foundation and has generally spread a lot of goodwill.

But it seems the NFL star’s latest effort has touched him on an even more personal level. And it definitely has touched the community where he grew up in a special way.

Moss and his associates with Randy Moss Enterprises have refurbished the DuPont Middle School field house to a state-of-the-art facility, complete with new lockers for both home and visiting locker rooms, new weight equipment, a new players lounge with a big screen television, and spruced up the weight room, coaches office, restrooms and laundry room. It was unveiled last week in a private ceremony with students at the school with little fanfare.

It was the same facility that Moss and his teammates used when Moss was an All-America player in his high school days at DuPont.

Inspired by the project, volunteers have been chipping in with other much needed upgrades on the grounds, including digging a drain to aid in the water problems the field was experiencing, building new benches and painting and repairing the concession area.

“A lot of people have come out and volunteered their services,” Moss said. “They’re bringing gravel, washing things, having hot dog sales, and they want to be a part of it. For that, I’m thankful. Every little bit helps. A lot of people are excited. We can all come together and make this work. I just want to thank them for doing this for the kids.

“I’ve been hearing from my team (at Randy Moss Enterprises) that everyone is real excited in the community. It has already brought a smile to a lot of kids< faces. That is enough for me.”

(The article continues at http://www.dailymail.com/ap/ApTopStories/200911140394)