Michael Oher

Michael Oher, Founder of the Oher Foundation, is a heartfelt storyteller, #1 Draft pick, NFL Super Bowl Champion, and subject of Hollywood hit, The Blind Side. Now he is using his platform for good by dedicating his life to making a difference in the lives of kids who need it most. As someone who has personal experience with facing the adversities created by the seemingly inescapable cycles of poverty and homelessness, Oher is choosing to take a stand for the socio-economically disadvantaged youth who are so often overlooked and forgotten through his charity, the Oher Foundation.

The Oher Foundation empowers socio-economically disadvantaged youth by providing them with opportunities and supports they need to overcome poverty through education, mentorship, and community. The Foundation is launching the Opportunity Scholar Program this Fall with their first class of scholars entering the 9th grade on August 8th, 2023.

There could not be a more qualified individual to take up such a noble cause. Oher was able to navigate the hardships of life as a foster kid, who went from the streets of Memphis all the way to the NFL. At the forefront of his vision, Oher saw the importance of education. Even as a kid struggling to feed himself on the streets of Memphis, Oher knew the key to his success would be made in his choices to always do what was right. So, with only a single white t-shirt to his name, he set out on a journey paved in perseverance to build a better future.

He would become known to the world from his successes gained through his determination to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds. That drive would give Oher the opportunity to study at the University of Mississippi, “Ole Miss,” where he would become a two-time All-American and winner of the Jacobs Blocking Trophy. Unrelenting in his efforts, he would graduate college to become the first-round NFL draft pick of the Baltimore Ravens in 2009. While playing for the Ravens, he would lead his team to victory in Super Bowl LXVII (47) earning him the title of champion. Now after having spent 8-years in the NFL with other teams including the Tennessee Titans and the Carolina Panthers, Oher is more active than ever.

His incredible story of escaping the cycle of poverty and homelessness to find success through football and beyond is chronicled in the New York Times best-selling book, "I Beat The Odds: From Homelessness To The Blind Side and Beyond" and soon to release "When Your Back’s Against the Wall: Fame, Football, and Lessons Learned through a Lifetime of Adversity." However, the most admirable aspect about Oher’s story is that his work through the Oher Foundation is helping inspire stories just like his in the lives of youth in Nashville, TN.