Steeler's Hines Ward Gives Back Worldwide

Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Hines Ward is known around the world as a highly talented and award-winning football player as well as an humanitarian and advocate for bi-racial children and adults. Ward was born in Korea to a Korean mother and an American father and moved to the United States when he was one.

He has said in numerous interviews that it was hard for him to find his identity while growing up in Georgia where his mother worked in the school cafeteria and struggled to learn English. He said it wasn't easy making friends. "The black kids didn't want to hang out with me because I had a Korean mom," Ward said in a New York Times interview. "The white kids didn't want to hang out with me because I was black. The Korean kids didn't want to hang out with me because I was black."

Ward, named the most valuable player in Super Bowl XL, has formed a foundation and serves on a presidential committee to help stop discrimination and bullying against bi-racial people. He helps sponsor children from South Korea to come to the United States each year to experience acceptance and love in this country, something that has been foreign to them in their homeland.
"It's a great culture," Ward said. "I love everything about it. But there's a dark side to that culture. And me, I'm trying to shed light on that dark side and make Korea a better place than it already is."

Being a leader in his community, in Korea, and on the football field, Ward has made his mother, Hung Ye Ward, proud and he serves as an inspiration to people around the world.