Through his charitable foundation, Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Marcell Dareus donated $125,000 to help construct a three-classroom building at the Christ-Roi Primary School of Cammy in Haiti.
Along with the classrooms, Dareus' gift will go toward hiring teachers, buying school supplies, and funding educational infrastructure.
"It is one thing to give money to something and hope for the best; it is quite something else to witness your efforts and see the gratitude and thankfulness of not just the children, but the whole community, for doing what you're doing," Dareus, who visited Haiti for the second straight year last week, told John Reid of The Florida Times-Union.
"To receive their blessings and hear their words of appreciation directly was something I could have never imagined several years ago. Their gratitude and happiness was overwhelming and showed me that what I am doing is going to have a tremendous impact on their lives."
He comes from Haitian roots; his late father was born and raised there.
Dareus made his donation to Hope for Haiti, an American organization that focuses on building sustainable schools. He made a $25,000 donation to Hope for Haiti after his visit last year, during which he met over 800 children.
