University of Florida Hall of Famer Thaddeus Bullard and his alma mater are challenging fans to help the hungry in their communities.
Bullard, who is known across the globe as WWE Superstar Titus O'Neil®, played defensive end on the Gator football team that won the 1998 Citrus Bowl and 1999 Orange Bowl. During the Tennessee game Sept. 26, Bullard will challenge The Gator Nation to commit 3,000 hours of volunteer time. If Gator fans meet the challenge, Bullard will respond with his own pledge. Throughout the football season, he also will challenge other well-known Gators to get involved.
The challenge is part of the Gator Good, a University of Florida campaign that focuses on the university’s impact beyond campus. Fans can follow the campaign on social media through the hashtag #GatorGood and on GatorGood.com, where they can read and share stories that inspire them and pledge time to local charities.
“Everything that I've had the opportunity to do for others started when people did things for me when they had nothing to gain in return,” Bullard said. “This Gator Good campaign will not only show how great The Gator Nation is, but also how great anyone can be when they give back to those that need it most.”
About Thaddeus Bullard:
After playing for the University of Florida and the Jacksonville Jaguars, Bullard joined WWE as Titus O’Neil and became a fixture on WWE's programming, including Raw and Smackdown.
Since his debut with WWE in 2012, Bullard has made an impact in and out of the ring as a business and family man, motivational speaker, youth counselor and coach. He often can be found speaking to children in schools, visiting the elderly in assisted-living facilities, and participating in charitable events in his community. In addition, he participates in WWE's numerous community-giving platforms, including Be a STAR, WWE’s anti-bullying campaign, and initiatives to support literacy, the U.S. military, Special Olympics and Susan G. Komen.
According to Bullard, the most important role in his life is as a father to his sons, T.J.,11, and Titus, 9. That commitment to fatherhood earned him a 2015 MEGA Dad Award, being named Celebrity Dad of the Year by everythingfordads.com. Bullard beat out actors Stephen Amell, Vin Diesel and Ashton Kutcher and soccer stars David Beckham and Kaká to claim the award. Last year, Bullard and his sons were featured in the Ad Council's "Take Time to Be a Dad" campaign, which was created to inspire a nationwide commitment to fatherhood. Bullard participated in WWE's promotion of the campaign via its television, live events, in-arena, digital and social media platforms, including an oversized billboard currently on display in Times Square.
At the University of Florida, Bullard was a standout defensive end, helping guide the Gators to victories in the 1998 Citrus Bowl and 1999 Orange Bowl. He received the Goodwill Gator award in 1998, 1999 and 2000 for community service and involvement and was inducted into the University of Florida Hall of Fame in spring 2000. That same year, Bullard was elected student body vice president and named to "Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges." Bullard was also part of Florida Blue Key, Florida's prestigious leadership and public service organization, and earned University Presidential Recognition. Another very personal accomplishment in 2014 for Bullard was being named "Humanitarian of the Year" by Rainbow Sports, the athletic arm of Rainbow/PUSH, by noted civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson.
Bullard and his sons reside in Tampa, where they are active members of Revealing Truth Ministries. He is also a proud brother of Omega Psi Phi fraternity.
