Kenny Clark Couldn’t Hug His Dad Growing Up—Now He’s Hugging a Generation That Needs Him

For Green Bay Packers defensive star Kenny Clark, football has always been a part of life. But the deeper story—the one that’s shaped his heart and legacy—goes far beyond the gridiron. It begins in childhood, in Rialto, California, where Clark was raised without the steady presence of his father, who was incarcerated for most of his formative years. “I couldn’t hug my dad when I needed him most,” Clark shared. “And that pain stuck with me.”

Rather than let that pain harden him, Clark turned it into something powerful: a promise to be the presence he once longed for. Today, he’s using his NFL platform to embrace and uplift kids growing up with challenges similar to those he faced. His mission is clear—to be a source of hope, strength, and visibility for youth who often feel overlooked.

At the heart of this mission is The Clark Family Dreams Do Come True Foundation, created to serve and support underserved children. Through this initiative, Clark leads a number of outreach programs, including free youth football camps, school supply drives, and mentorship efforts. The most prominent is his annual football camp in Southern California, where hundreds of kids learn more than just how to play the game—they learn resilience, self-belief, and community.

“I want these kids to know someone believes in them,” Clark said in a 2024 interview. “That they matter. That they’re not alone.”

But Clark’s impact doesn’t stop there. He has forged a powerful partnership with Prison Fellowship’s Angel Tree Sports Clinic, which supports children of incarcerated parents—the very category Clark once belonged to. In 2018, he hosted a clinic in Rialto, providing hands-on coaching and heartfelt mentorship. The experience, he said, was deeply emotional. “Looking into their eyes, I see myself. I know what it’s like to feel forgotten.”

Clark has also been recognized for his work with multiple nominations for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, celebrating players who make lasting impacts off the field. His community outreach includes pledging significant donations to causes supporting children of incarcerated parents and showing up in person to connect with the youth he serves.

For Clark, this work isn’t charity—it’s personal healing. “Every time I show up for these kids, I feel like I’m healing the younger version of me,” he said. “I may not have had those hugs growing up, but I’m giving them now—to the ones who need them.”

As he continues to anchor the Packers’ defense, Kenny Clark’s true legacy is taking shape far beyond the stadium. By turning his personal pain into purpose, he’s not only redefining what it means to be a role model—he’s wrapping an entire generation in the embrace he once wished for himself.