Tua Tagovailoa Establishes Charity, Gives $16K To Big Oak Ranch

MIAMI, FL — Fresh off an NFL rookie season that saw him earn the starting job at quarterback for the Miami Dolphins, former Alabama Crimson Tide signal caller Tua Tagovailoa recently announced the establishment of the Tua Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focusing on youth initiatives, health and wellness, and other charitable causes.

Click here to subscribe to our daily email newsletters and breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox and mobile devices for free. You can also support local journalism by donating as little as $5 a month to become a supporting member or by downloading our free Patch mobile app.

According to a release from The Tua Foundation, the nonprofit will promote charitable endeavors in south Florida, Alabama and Hawai`i, awarding three grants of $16,667 to commemorate the establishment of the organization.

Totaling $50,000, the grants were awarded on Feb. 4 to the Police Athletic League of North Miami; Big Oak Ranch in Springville, Alabama and the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame in Honolulu.

“It is my deepest hope that the Tua Foundation will make a meaningful impact in support of those in need,” Tagovailoa said.“Helping others is a tenet of my faith and who I am. This is a cause close to my heart.”

Founded by former Alabama football player John Croyle in 1974, the Big Oak Boys’ Ranch evolved to also include a girls' ranch and is now overseen by Croyle's son Brodie — a former Crimson Tide quarterback.

The Christian-oriented Big Oak Ranch works to meet the needs of abused, neglected and abandoned children by "giving them a solid, Christian home and a chance to realize and fulfill God’s plan for their lives."

Apart from the recent donations, Tagovailoa also established a $300,000 scholarship endowment to benefit his high school, Saint Louis School in Honolulu. Four scholarships will reportedly be awarded to students from Hawaii over the next four years, each named in honor of his grandparents.

Follow Patch here for updates or on Facebook and Twitter.