An effort by NFL players in Seattle to draw attention to social injustice touched a Seattle Seahawk fan so much he arranged the donation of $25,000 to the group.
The Seattle Times reports that Steven Paschall heard about the player’s efforts while he was receiving treatment for Lymphoma.
The Equality and Justice for All Action Fund was created by players from the Seahawks to transform protest into lasting change.
Paschell himself had started a foundation in his late daughter’s name in 2009. The Kelly Ann Brown foundation has always stood for those who have been marginalized because of their race, gender or sexual orientation.
“Steve was impressed that the players were being proactive, first by drawing attention to the issue through their demonstrations on the field,’’ said Paschalle’s wife Katy Jo Steward. “The Seahawks have been criticized and maligned for sitting or kneeling during the national anthem. They are accused of being unpatriotic and worse. Steve and the rest of the board felt it was important to stand with them.’’
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Two days after the donation, Paschall died at age 62.
Doug Baldwin, a starting tight end for the Seahawks who is both Filipino American and Black, wrote Paschall a touching handwritten note of thanks.
The letter read:
To the Paschall Family, all things that truly matter, love, kindness, creativity, beauty, joy…I can’t say it enough and words aren’t enough to express my gratitude for simply living in the essence of all the things that matter…I wanted to personally thank Kelly Ann Brown and her father, Steven Paschall, for inspiriring others including myself to “forgive always and love completely.” Thank you for contributing to this world through your heart. This world is a better place because of it.
Baldwin’s letter was read at Paschall’s service.
“For Steve to kind of in his last days request that, that that was something he wanted to do, I don’t know,” said Baldwin. “And then their whole family story and their daughter and her values and the things she cared about, it felt right and I felt compelled to tell them how grateful we were for their support.’’
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