RESPECT: Drake Maye silences Gillette with a quiet gesture before the New Year’s game

Posted January 3, 2026 Green Bay, Wisconsin — To Green Bay, Donald Driver has always been more than the all-time leading receiver in franchise history. Long after the catches, the records, and the Super Bowl celebration, Driver has remained a constant presence in the community — especially for children and families who need help the most. Through the Donald Driver Foundation, the Packers legend has spent years supporting youth education, health initiatives, and programs aimed at fighting childhood poverty across Wisconsin. From scholarships to food security efforts like Blessings in a Backpack, Driver’s work has reflected the same humility and consistency that defined his playing career. That reputation was tested when a partner charity connected to one of the foundation’s community initiatives was found to have misused donations intended for Green Bay’s children. According to court documents, auditors discovered that a significant portion of the funds never reached youth programs. Instead, money was diverted through inflated administrative salaries, false expense reports, and unauthorized personal benefits. Less than half of the promised funding reportedly reached its intended recipients. For Driver, the issue was personal. Staying silent, he believed, would mean accepting harm done to the most vulnerable members of the community he has always stood for. He immediately took legal action, filing suit to recover the funds and restore trust for families who believed in his mission. The Green Bay Packers publicly supported Driver throughout the process, assisting with documentation and standing firmly behind one of the most respected figures in franchise history. Team officials emphasized that Packers legends remain part of the organization’s family long after their playing days are over. The court ultimately ruled decisively in Driver’s favor. The organization responsible for the misconduct was ordered to repay more than $2 million, its executives were barred from nonprofit leadership for a decade, and all recovered funds were immediately redirected to children’s programs in the Green Bay area. Driver declined to accept any personal financial compensation. Every dollar recovered will be used for youth education, healthcare support, and community outreach — reinforcing the same values Driver has championed for decades. In early 2026, he also formally passed leadership of the annual Green Bay Charity Softball Game to Jordan Love, ensuring the event’s legacy continues for the next generation. On the field, Donald Driver’s résumé speaks for itself: franchise receiving records, a Super Bowl XLV championship, and a place among the most beloved figures in Packers history. Off the field, his legacy may be even stronger — measured not in yards, but in lives protected and opportunities preserved. Driver summed up the moment simply in a message that quickly spread through Green Bay: “If someone takes from our kids, that’s where I draw the line. Green Bay looks after its own.” The city didn’t just celebrate a legal victory.It celebrated a guardian — one who continues to protect the heart of Green Bay long after hanging up his cleats. Donald Driver remains, now and always, a champion of this community.