The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Vince Young joins with NetSpend
04.22.2006 | Football
Vince Young sealed his first endorsement by signing with Austin-based NetSpend Corporation, a provider of prepaid debit cards, at the company's headquarters Saturday morning. Along with the deal, Young donated $10,000 to the UT College of Communication to establish a scholarship fund for advertising and sports marketing at UT.
"It feels really good to team up with these great guys," Young said. "I love to give back, especially to kids and just help out in the community, that's why I decided to go with NetSpend, they feel the same way about it. I feel like this will be great for me."
Young presented the donation in the form of an enlarged NetSpend debit card to Dr. Isabella Cunningham of the Department of Advertising in the College of Communication at UT.
"We, in the department of advertising, in the college of communications, and at The University, are so proud that you are taking this opportunity to make it possible for many more students to fulfill their dreams and their chosen mission in life," Cunningham said to Young.
"There is only one Vince Young, but with this scholarship, he is also an icon, and he inspires, and will continue to inspire, many others," she followed.
Chris Plonsky, UT's women's athletics director and director of men's/women's athletics external services, was also on hand representing The University and described Young as a prime example of a student-athlete that has taken advantage of the opportunity for higher education, worked hard and become a productive citizen.
"With this scholarship to the college of communications, he's giving back," Plonsky said. "That is the real win for The University of Texas athletics department. We love the ring, we love the tower, but this is a win in every single way, and it will continue."
NetSpend Co-Founders Roy and Bertrand Sosa, who are graduates of UT, along with CEO Rick Savard identified Young as an ideal representative for their company.
"What attracted us to Vince is where he has come from, his accomplishments, his values, his moral set -- the way he connects to people," Savard said. "I think you can see that here today. For us, it was the logical next step in the evolution of our company to align ourselves with someone of his character and his makeup, so we're very excited."
Young's signing comes at the one-week mark until the 2006 NFL Draft where he is anticipated as an early first-round pick.
"I'm excited knowing that I'm going to have the opportunity to go to New York and sit in the green room with all my family," Young said. "There will be a lot of emotion because it was a hard time for me growing up, I didn't have a lot of things, but to get to the point where we don't have to worry about things like that anymore, I just want to continue working and being a role model and continue living my dream."