Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Chris Long announced Tuesday morning that he’s playing the entire NFL season for charity, meaning he’s donating his 2017 salary to improve equal education opportunities.

”My wife and I have been passionate about education being a gateway for upward mobility and equality,” Long told The Associated Press. ”I think we can all agree that equity in education can help affect change that we all want to see in this country.”

Long already donated his first six game checks to fund scholarships in his hometown of Charlottesville, VA. The scholarships will be given to two members from the Boys & Girls Club of Central Virginia, so they can receive a seven-year, all expenses paid education in an environment that offers rich learning experiences and “equality through education.”

Now these next 10 game checks will be used to launch the Pledge 10 for Tomorrow campaign, which “encourages fans, businesses and every person with a desire to join in his pursuit of equal education opportunities for all students to make a donation.” Long’s goal is to get people to match his 10-game donation, which will fund education in Philadelphia, Boston and St. Louis, the three cities he’s played his professional football career in.

 

 

“In my 10th year, I want to celebrate the awesome opportunity I’ve had to play football by giving back to the communities that have given me that gift,” he said in his statement. “Educational opportunity and equity are the best gateway to a better tomorrow for everyone in America.”

According to Pro Football Talk, the 32-year-old had a base salary of $1 million this year.

“This isn’t a hero thing. It’s nothing like that,” Long said in September. “It’s honestly just that I want to put my money where my mouth is.”

For those who would like to donate to Long’s Pledge 10 for Tomorrow campaign, go here. At the time of this writing, $2,533 has been raised.