Quarterback Aaron Rodgers gives back to hometown nonprofit to help Park Fire recovery

NFL star quarterback Aaron Rodgers is giving back to his former home in Butte County while the area fights one of the largest fires in California history.

Amid the battle against the Park Fire, the New York Jets signal-caller donated $50,000 to the North Valley Community Foundation’s Wildfire Relief and Recovery Fund, according to a news release Wednesday.

“We are so grateful for Aaron’s love and care for his hometown and all of the North Valley,” wrote foundation president and CEO Alexa Benson-Valavanis. “Whether it’s the Camp Fire, a global pandemic or this fire, Aaron is quick to ask how he can help people here. He knows how important it is to help the helpers with resources, so they can support fire victims.”

Rodgers, 40, was born in Chico and returned there in 1997 after his family moved to Ukiah and then Beaverton, Oregon, as a child. He attended Pleasant Valley High School before spending his first college season at Butte Community College in 2002. He transferred to play Division I at Cal, where he spent two seasons. He went on to be the No. 24 pick in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers, where he won a Super Bowl and four NFL MVP awards.

According to Cal Fire, the Park Fire burned 389,764 acres, destroyed 361 structures and damaged 36 others as of Wednesday afternoon. It’s the fifth-largest fire in state history and is 18% contained. Roughly 8,000 residents in the area remain displaced.

Rodgers during the COVID-19 pandemic partnered with the North Valley Community Foundation to create a small business fund that gave out $578,000 to help 79 businesses. He also partnered with the nonprofit to distribute $100,000 in grants to help recovery efforts from the Thompson Fire near Oroville earlier in July.

Rodgers is currently on a three-year, $112.5 million deal with the Jets and made over $342 million in player salary over his 19 seasons.