Ovie Mughelli: NFL's Greenest Athlete to Visit Better Living Show
Play Recycle on the Run with Ovie all day Friday and Saturday in Planet Kids at the Better Living Show.
Public Autograph Sessions:
Friday, March 25
1:00 - 2:00 pm
Saturday, March 26
1:00 - 2:00 pm
“It is both shocking and exciting to learn that I was among the top eco athletes,” says Ovie Mughelli. “Since starting the Ovie Mughelli Foundation in 2008, my efforts are to encourage youth and families to be better to our planet, through practical lifestyle changes. We want to continue to grow in partnership and support to create quality programs to empower our youth.”
Ovie's summer interview with Sierra magazine's lifestyle editor Avital Binshtock
It's a long shot that the starting fullback for the Atlanta Falcons would care enough about the environment to spend much of his time teaching at-risk youth about its problems. But Ovie Mughelli, at 30 years old and 245 pounds, is the NFL's greenest star, aiming his eco-efforts at underprivileged kids. He hosts a free football camp to draw them in, and once he's got their attention, puts on an environmental workshop to educate them about sustainable living.
He was studying to be a doctor before he was drafted. Now that he's a professional athlete, he buys 40 seats per game for children who display "positive attitudes and passion to improve." I talked to him to learn more about his commitment to young people and his passion for the environment.
Q: How do you get kids to care?
A: Inner-city kids aren't worried about the environment. They're more concerned with violence, drugs, or getting something to eat that night. They think going green is unattainable and expensive, so I tell them there are ways that actually save money, like using less water and turning off lights. I teach that they can start with practical lifestyle changes.
This message is clear for people from private schools and the suburbs, but for underprivileged kids, the message isn't as prevalent. So I try to use football to bring kids toward me and at least give environmentalism a chance. That's how I'm able to get to them, using the pedestal people place me on for good.
I also explain how environmental problems get to them. Kids aren't going to change unless you tell them why it's important for them. They're a lot smarter than we give them credit for, and ignorance is a very dangerous thing. The ones who know about it least suffer most. The kids I work with live in an unhealthy environment and have some of the highest rates of asthma. These kids need to get on it and give themselves a future.
