While Jabari Bailey’s dreams of playing college football abruptly came to an end last week following a devastating injury, the Tuskegee University Department of Athletics is hoping to make his dream of a college education a reality.
Last week, Memphis-area news outlets reported that Bailey, who was scheduled to join the Golden Tigers football team for football camp this summer, sustained a career-ending injury. His “Good Samaritan” act of helping a friend whose car left him stranded on the side of the road resulted in Bailey being struck by another car. The impact of the crash pinned Bailey between the two cars, instantly severing one of his legs.
Tuskegee Athletics joins with the ongoing outpouring of concern for Bailey by posting a GoFundMe account on his family’s behalf to assist with various expenses.
“The entire university is heartbroken for Jabari, his family and for all of us who know him,” Tuskegee University athletics director and head football coach Willie Slater said. “There are no words to describe how it felt to hear this terrible news. The football team, athletic program and university will be there to support Jabari in any way we can throughout this incredibly difficult time in his life.”
NCAA rules permit Tuskegee to pay directly for Jabari’s actual and necessary expenses related to him and his family. This GoFundMe account extends beyond that scope of covering rehabilitation and any other related expenses. The GoFundMe effort is in compliance with NCAA rules and allows all fans, donors, and supporters to contribute to these particular expenses.
Under NCAA bylaw 16.11.1.7-(g), if an NCAA school is involved, the name, image, and likeness of the student-athlete can be used to help raise money for student-athletes (or their family members) under the following extreme circumstances:
- Extreme circumstances should be extraordinary in the result of events beyond the student-athlete’s control (e.g., life-threatening illness, natural disaster);
- The proceeds must be designated for a specific purpose (e.g., payment of medical bills, purchase of medical equipment, replacement of items lost in a fire, etc.)
- The proceeds may be given directly to the beneficiaries, with receipt kept on file by the institution, which must include the amount of expenses incurred and the total amount received.
To make a donation to support the Bailey family, go here. Donors should note that contributions to this fundraising effort are not considered donations to the university, and therefore are not considered tax-deductible university donations.
Courtesy: Tuskegee Athletics
