Saints RB Mark Ingram Using NFL Lockout to Make a Difference for Kids

New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram is using this locked out offseason to make a real difference for kids. The first round draft pick isn’t out riding bulls for publicity or other foolish events, he is instead using the time to start the Mark Ingram Foundation dedicated to helping children with parents in jail.

“The foundation is something that’s real important to me,” said Ingram.  ”It’s something I’m living, something I’m going through, something my sisters and I have experienced off and on throughout our lives.

“There are so many negative statistics that come along with children or youth [who] have a parent or two parents that are incarcerated. I just want to let them know that although you have a parent who is gone or he or she is incarcerated, you can still be whatever you want to be, do whatever you want to do. You just have to put your mind to it.”

Ingram’s father, Mark Ingram Sr., is currently in jail serving a 92 month sentence. Ingram Sr. was a former wide receiver for the New York Giants and his son delivered the best moment of the 2011 NFL Draft with a heartfelt interview with ESPN’s Suzy Kolber after being drafted.

You have to love stories like this especially on a special day like today. Ingram truly is making a positive impact in his community and that impact will last long past his playing days.