mike mckenzie- giving back to the bayou

mike mckenzie- giving back to the bayou

photo by steed media service

Cornerback, New Orleans Saints

One of the league’s most tenacious cornerbacks, Mike McKenzie, forsook
the cold winters of Wisconsin’s Green Bay for the balmy summers of
N’awlins. “I was drafted by the Green Bay Packers – one of the most
prestigious organizations in this league,” says McKenzie. “[But] to get
traded to the Saints was truly a blessing.” Leaving a team in flux for
a squad that rapidly ascended the NFL hierarchy in 2006, one can
understand why McKenzie is happy with his current situation. Even after
the tragic events of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath, McKenzie
couldn’t believe the joy in the people of the Crescent City.

“The city [and] the fans have really embraced the whole situation,” he
says of the rebuilding process. “It’s a family affair down here.
There’s a lot of work to be done, but that’s what you feel.”

McKenzie
is passionate about adding to that familial aura in the city. His 34
Ways Foundation is working to start after-school programs for the youth
of New Orleans. “I’m working with the superintendent and the school
board to get one of the first community centers up and running,” he
explains. “We’re looking to do a full-learning facility, with a
classroom atmosphere as well as athletics. We’re pretty close to
getting something done.” “I’m a first-generation American. I’m
originally from Miami and I know how much it meant to me personally
coming up in a community that truly cared,” McKenzie shares. “It made a
world of difference for me in my life – and career.” – todd Williams