Brandon Carr was born on May 19, 1986, in Flint, Michigan. He grew up the youngest son of John and Kathy Carr. After being a star football player at Carman-Ainsworth High School, he went on to further his career at Grand Valley State University where he competed on two national championship teams and also became a Division 2 All-American.

In 2008, The Kansas City Chiefs selected Brandon in the fifth round of the NFL draft. After playing four great seasons with the Chiefs, he had the opportunity to sign a contract with his childhood favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys. He has started every game since his arrival in Dallas and is the current leader in consecutive starts for an active cornerback in the NFL. He received the nickname “Iron Horse” while he was in Kansas City for being durable, reliable, and tough-minded, a nickname that still holds true to him today.

Brandon has accomplished a lot over his eight seasons as an NFL athlete, but what is most impressive is his work off the field serving the community. In 2012, he founded the Carr Cares Foundation, which is geared towards improving child literacy by helping young students become proficient readers. Along with the literacy initiatives, the foundation also encourages children to live a healthy lifestyle though balanced nutrition and by being physically active.

In 2015, Brandon was nominated for the “Walter Payton Man of the Year Award”, a prestigious accolade that recognizes NFL athletes for their outstanding work in the community. He has received two nominations for the “Man of the Year Award” since his Foundation’s inception. In January, he received the “Oak Cliff Presidents Award” for his dedication to the community and his passion to help young students succeed. Brandon was also nominated by his teammates to receive the 2016 Byron “Whizzer” White NFL Man of the year award.

In October of 2015, Brandon flew back to Michigan during his off week to open up three reading centers in his hometown of Flint, where students can get daily tutoring to help them read at grade level. He is also very active in the Dallas community offering reading programs, mentoring, feeding families for the holidays, and hosting his annual football camp.

Founded in 2012, the Carr Cares Foundation focuses on the educational enrichment and physical fitness for youth. Influenced by founder Brandon Carr’s passion for literacy and his love of sports, the Foundation provides students in Dallas, Texas and Flint, Michigan with opportunities to practice and perfect their literacy and athletic skills.

The Carr Cares Foundation supports and promotes child literacy by establishing reading centers, implementing tutoring programs, and providing learning tools to help young students understand the importance of reading and improve their literacy skills.

The Foundation also encourages healthy living through physical activity and balanced nutrition by supporting the NFL Play 60 program, offering football and cheerleading camps and providing training programs for student athletes striving to develop their skills and techniques.

In 2012, Dallas Cowboy cornerback Brandon Carr established the Carr Cares Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization that focuses on the educational enrichment and physical fitness for youth in Dallas, Texas and Flint, Michigan.

In 2015, the Carr Cares Foundation partnered with the United Way of Genesee County to establish three reading centers at elementary schools in Brandon’s hometown of Flint, MI. The reading centers provided students with over 500 new books, a number of audio book listening stations and a beanbag-filled, colorful and fun environment to read and explore their imagination. Each center also employs reading coaches to ensure students reach their grade level literacy goals.

In addition to its literacy work, the Carr Cares Foundation hosts the Brandon Carr Elite Football & Cheerleading Camp in Dallas and Flint. Football campers receive expert training from area high school coaches, current and former collegiate athletes and NFL players, while cheerleading campers receive competitive cheer and tumbling instruction from varsity coaches.

In 2015, Brandon Carr was nominated for the prestigious Walter Payton Man of the year award for the second time since his Foundation’s inception. The Man of the Year award recognizes NFL players for their efforts on and off the field. Due to Brandon’s outstanding work in the community, he is a strong candidate to win this award.