From a $1 million Detroit donation to a $1.5 million UGA gift: How Matthew and Kelly Stafford built a lasting charitable legacy

Matthew and Kelly Stafford have used their success in the NFL to support education, youth programs and community causes. Much of their charitable work has a strong connection to Detroit, where Matthew played for the Lions for 12 seasons. Their giving has also reached the University of Georgia, where both have personal ties. Together, their documented donations include millions of dollars toward education, youth development and social justice programs.How Matthew and Kelly Stafford turned a $1 million gift into a lasting Detroit education centerThe Staffords’ relationship with SAY Detroit began in 2015, when the organization opened its Play Center in Detroit. The center provides free academic, athletic and arts programs, along with meals and transportation, for young people in the area. The Staffords became supporters of the center and later made one of their biggest commitments to the project.In February 2021, Matthew and Kelly Stafford pledged $1 million to help build a new education center at SAY Detroit Play Center at Lipke Park. The planned facility was named the Kelly and Matthew Stafford & Friends Education Center. The 15,000 square foot expansion was designed to add six classrooms, learning labs and a theater, while also creating space for vocational and technical training for adults.The project moved forward with support from other donors as well. SAY Detroit later reported that the Staffords, the A.A. Van Elslander Foundation and the Clarence and Jack Himmel Foundation each provided $1 million toward the expansion. More than 1,000 other donors also contributed to the project.The center was dedicated on April 1, 2024. SAY Detroit said the new space expanded the Play Center by nearly 15,000 square feet and allowed it to offer more academic and enrichment programs for hundreds of Detroit young people between the ages of 8 and 18. The facility also includes learning labs and a black box theater.Matthew and Kelly Stafford’s $1.5 million UGA donation supported social justice and scholarshipsTheir charitable work has also included the University of Georgia, where Matthew played football and Kelly was a cheerleader. In 2020, the couple committed $1.5 million to the university. The University of Georgia said the gift supported several areas, including a new social justice program within UGA Athletics.Of that commitment, $350,000 went toward the social justice program, which focused on diversity, inclusion, equity and social justice for student-athletes, coaches and staff. The gift also created two Georgia Commitment Scholarships for students who could still struggle to cover the full cost of attendance even after receiving other financial aid.The remaining parts of the $1.5 million commitment supported the Magill Society and the Butts-Mehre Expansion Project, as well as the UGA Spirit Program Operational Endowment, which provides support for Georgia cheerleading.The Staffords’ charitable work has therefore reached different parts of education, from a Detroit center serving children and adults to scholarships and student programs at their former university. The figures attached to these projects show the scale of their giving, while the facilities and programs provide a clear picture of where those donations have gone.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.