“I wanted to start a program that would give back to kids who don’t have the resources or elite coaching to play soccer.”
That mindset is what motivated Minnesota Vikings linebacker DJ Wonnum to join forces with his family to create the Wonnum Brothers Foundation (Foundation). Founded in 2021 with his brother Dylan, an offensive lineman at the University of South Carolina, the foundation is dedicated to uplifting and empowering youth through sports and education.
The Wonnum Brothers primarily focus on young athletes who excel in soccer but can't afford elite coaching and training, providing players with hands-on training, teamwork exercises, and life skills coaching. We hold a camp every year where you can learn from professional athletes. Children from 3rd grade through 8th grade from Georgia and surrounding states flock to the camp eager to play with accomplished professional soccer players.
Their father and foundation CEO Dennis saw firsthand how competitive football could become when DJ and Dylan were growing up and wanted to level the playing field. I was there.
Dennis says, “You can see that the training kids are receiving varies even by region. I realized how difficult it was to compete for gold. I needed to provide additional coaching for them to compete against other athletes. Now I want to do the same for the younger generation. I am.”
From playing football as a kid to attending the University of South Carolina to playing professionally in the NFL, DJ always wanted to create a program that would share his knowledge and expertise and give back to young athletes.
“When I was a kid, I used to wonder why players who went on to play in the league didn’t come back to give back to the communities that built them. I knew that even if I succeeded in the industry, I would come back and help young kids who might not have access to resources and coaching.”
“There are a lot of kids who play sports and want to be successful,” Dylan said. “Just because they don’t have the means to do so should not prevent them from getting a fair chance.”
For siblings, all children deserve access and opportunity to succeed, regardless of their financial means. And achieving that goal required a team effort.
By working together as a family, the Wonnams gain knowledge from each other's perspectives. They believe that we can be stronger together.
Dennis said, “From an educational perspective, there may be a lot that parents don't know when it comes to letting their kids participate in a sport like soccer.'' I had a lot of questions myself. For a long time, we haven't looked around to find answers. We're working together to make the creation of a foundation possible so families can have their questions answered.”
In addition to their participation as a family in the founding of the Foundation, the Wonnums believe that their partnership at William Blair was instrumental in its launch and future plans.
Lenny MalongweChief Philanthropic Advisor William Blair has worked closely with the Wonnums to understand their goals and aspirations and position the Foundation for success.
“It was an honor to work with the family,” Malongwe said. “Together we have been thinking about how to build the infrastructure and define what happens next. We are excited to leverage the company's resources and expertise to advance the Foundation's growth and impact. ”
Rob Lumley, William Blair Wealth Advisors and Managing Director, said: “It has been a great opportunity to work with the Wonnum family to help establish the Foundation.” “It’s inspiring to see families like the Wonnums reinvest in their communities and use their skill sets to impact the futures of young athletes.”
In addition to focusing on football technical skills, the Foundation also focuses on five other initiatives for campers: It's about athlete empowerment, coaching excellence, community engagement, life after athletics, and family togetherness.
The foundation is currently preparing for this year's camp in June and is also planning new initiatives.
“We have been brainstorming possible programs,” said Andre Mandeldaub, vice president of the foundation. “From sports entrepreneurship workshops to mental health sessions, there are many things we can and will introduce into our camps.
“We use the game of football as a foundation to foster the growth of our community's youth. The Wonnum Brothers Foundation believes in the holistic development of athletes on and off the field.”
