Since leaving the University of Mississippi, A.J. Brown, the celebrated Ole Miss Rebel, has set NFL records as a wide receiver with the Philadelphia Eagles.
He’s also achieving remarkable success off the gridiron helping others.
The Ole Miss Women’s Council for Philanthropy honored Brown’s service to his greater community by naming him the 2024 Emerging Young Philanthropist as part of the most recent event in the Robert C. Khayat Lecture Series.
The dynamic, generous young athlete returned to campus April 13 to receive the honor in the South Endzone Club of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. At the “Celebration of Philanthropy with A.J. Brown” event, Brown announced the launch of his foundation, The A.J. Brown Foundation, a fiscally sponsored program of Athletes Charitable, a division of United Charitable.
In addition to sharing the details about his new foundation, Brown discussed his career as a student and professional athlete. Event attendees enjoyed a social hour featuring an opportunity to visit with Brown and a light dinner offering a variety of hors d’oeuvres provided by Elizabeth Heiskell Catering, the acclaimed food service company operated by Oxford’s best-selling cookbook author.
“It’s an exciting time to return to Ole Miss,” Brown said. “It’s a special place for me and my family. It means everything. Ole Miss is the place I call home and it will forever be home in my heart, whether I’m here or however far I go.
“I could not have been more excited to come back to receive this prestigious award from the Ole Miss Women’s Council. It’s a feeling like none other. I am truly grateful for the support of Rebel Nation.”
Brown is a man on a mission.
“The A.J. Brown Foundation is all about creating a pathway for success and a brighter future for the young ones out there today. This is something I’ve been thinking about for some time and that it would be great to unveil it where it all started,” he said. “And if I can come back, help mentor some kids and possibly change their lives forever, that’s what I want to do.”
RiverLand Roofing Contractor was the presenting sponsor of the event.
A live auction to benefit the Women’s Council and The A.J. Brown Foundation was also part of the evening’s festivities.
The Women’s Council welcomed the opportunity to host Brown as part of its efforts to inspire and develop future leaders and philanthropists, said Mary Susan Gallien Clinton, chair of the University of Mississippi Foundation and past chair of the Women’s Council.
“At merely 26 years old, A.J. Brown is not just redefining greatness; he embodies it as a philanthropist in cleats,” said Clinton.
“While he is a dominating presence on NFL football fields, his real game transcends the physical boundaries of sports,” she said. “His philanthropic endeavors are limitless, showcasing a profound commitment to fostering confidence and resilience among youth.”
Brown has achieved remarkable success during his five years in the NFL, of which he has spent the past two years with the Eagles in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He spent his first two seasons in the NFL with the Tennessee Titans.
He earned All-Pro second-team recognition from the Associated Press and was voted to his third Pro Bowl in 2023 after recording 1,456 receiving yards on 106 catches (13.8 average), with seven touchdowns, and setting an NFL record with six consecutive games of 125-plus receiving yards. He is the first player in Eagles history to produce 1,200-plus receiving yards in consecutive seasons.
During his years as a student-athlete at Ole Miss, Brown quickly accumulated several impressive statistics.
Originally from Starkville, Mississippi, he was only a sophomore when he was awarded the C Spire Conerly Trophy as the state’s most outstanding college football player in 2017.
Additionally, he became the all-time leading receiver in Ole Miss history with 2,984 yards as well as the player with the most 100-yard receiving games (12). He is also the only receiver in the football program to tally 60 or more receptions in back-to-back seasons.
Keith Carter, vice chancellor for intercollegiate athletics, said Brown’s superior athletic abilities were evident before he began his freshman year at Ole Miss in 2016. It didn’t take long to see his supportive nature off the field.
“From the day he signed with Ole Miss, A.J. has been a tremendous ambassador for our university,” Carter said. “His talent, competitiveness and leadership on the field have been obvious, but his impact goes far beyond that.
“He has continued to generously give back to his home state and serve as a mentor to young Mississippians. We are proud to call A.J. a Rebel and look forward to seeing the many things he will accomplish in the years ahead, both on and off the field.”
For more information about The AJ Brown Foundation and to give to Brown’s new philanthropic program, visit The AJ Brown Foundation (givesignup.org).
For more information about the Ole Miss Women’s Council’s mission and activities, contact Suzanne Helveston, program director, at shelveston@olemiss.edu or 662-915-2956.
By Jonathan Scott/UM Development