Asante Samuel Building Homes For Single Moms

Asante Samuel said that his mother Christine, after filing for bankruptcy, was living in a hotel during his first year in the NFL.

It was nothing new to be uprooted. Though an employee of the city for 33 years, Christine frequently ran into money issues while trying to raise a handful of children, not all of which were her own (Friend of the family and eventual NFL player Benny Sapp was provided for by Christine as well).

“We owed everybody,” said Samuel, who grew up in and around Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. “We moved every six months. We’d get behind in rent and had to move.”

These struggles led to Asante creating the “Bring It Home Single Moms Foundation” which, along with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Miami, builds houses for low-income single mothers. Samuel will be working alongside foundation members on Saturday as they build the first ever “Bring It Home Single Moms” house.

“I’m going to have my hard-hat on, my belt with all those tools,” said Samuel playfully.

The four-time Pro Bowler started the foundation this offseason, putting in his own money and time into getting it off the ground as the NFL sits in a deep freeze. There are early plans to create a presence in the Philadelphia area as well.

To get Christine out of the hotel and find some stability, Asante bought her a condo when he got back from his first season with the Patriots, he said.

“Growing up as a kid we didn’t own a house, and once I was able to get my mom a house it made me realize the importance of having a house to call your own,” said Samuel. “It makes your life that much easier.”

Asante’s gift to Christine was just the start. Once he got his big pay day from the Eagles – a six-year deal worth a reported $57 million back in 2008 – he put her up in a much more plush living space, with all the works.

This time around his efforts will be helping Nicole Dukes, a single mother of two in the Miami area.

“My daughter and son will have their own room, something I never had as a child since I lived with my grandmother and grandfather plus other siblings,” said Dukes.

“This new home will start a new chapter in our lives of stability and peace.   It will build a solid union between all of us giving our family a sense of purpose, appreciation and encouragement that life offers numerous opportunities with patience, discipline, hard work and love.”

The build day will culminate with a check presentation from the “Bring it Home Single Moms Foundation” to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Miami.

“Life is tough,” said Samuel, “and everybody on Earth is here because they are supposed to be a help to their neighbor. This is one way to start it.”

To view article, click here.