Toledo punter Bailey Flint pays it forward to local daycare

Oct. 21—Bailey Flint is in no man's land.

Not pinned into Toledo's own end zone or stranded in the Australian outback. The University of Toledo punter is in the unenviable position of not being able to profit off of his name, image, and likeness because of a quirk in international law.

The F-1 student visa for the Melbourne native prevents him from accepting outside income. But it hasn't precluded Flint from making money for a cause near and dear to his heart.

The Toledo senior is teaming up with Jupmode on a 419 shirt that incorporates Flint punting, his jersey number 49, and the northwest Ohio area code. Proceeds go directly to My First Days Daycare in Toledo and a second shirt can be purchased at a discounted price and be donated to the daycare.

"It's sad that he can't use the money for himself, especially the fact that he's such a great kid," daycare owner Kashaundra Besteda said. "But we're honored that he thought about us and is willing to donate the money to help us out."

In recent years, Flint has volunteered at My First Days, reading books and playing games with children who are often from disadvantaged backgrounds. The daycare operates heavily on government subsidies and donations. When Flint suffered a season-ending injury in 2019, shredding several ligaments in his left ankle, the kids gave back to him.

Flint's family couldn't make it to the United States, but it didn't matter because the first thing he was greeted with coming out of surgery was "Get Well Soon" signs made by the My First Days students.

The gesture touched Flint, who used the message as motivation during the darkest days of an exhausting rehabilitation.

"Coming from a low socioeconomic area myself and seeing kids in similar environments, not having the best opportunities in life, how racism affects the lives of a lot of guys, it really opened my eyes to what life is really like for other people," Flint said. "When an opportunity is put in front of me where I could possibly make a positive impact on someone's life, why would I say no? I've had a lot of people make a really positive impact on my life."

A creative streak has helped Flint become one of the most followed college athletes on social media. He has hundreds of thousands of devotees — mostly females — who watch videos that incorporate his acting, singing, and Hollywood good looks.

The marketability made Flint a popular target for companies after NIL legislation became official in July. However, Flint had to deliver the bad news that he was unable to cash in. When Jupmode approached him, Flint began researching his options and discovered that a charity of his choice could benefit.

"You go out one side of campus and there are million-dollar homes. You go out the other side and there's a house boarded up selling for $10 grand," Flint said. "I know where this money is going, and I can go see it work. That's exciting to me, personally."

This is the third NIL shirt Jupmode has made. The other two were for Adam Furnas, a Bowling Green baseball player, and St. Francis de Sales graduate Noah Johnson, who pitches at Virginia Tech. The popular retro clothing company, headquartered on Adams Street, wants to offer a platform for local athletes.

"We thought [the Flint shirt] was a great idea," Jupmode owner John Amato said. "It goes hand in hand with initiatives we've been involved in in the past. A lot of things came together to make it a unique shirt and fit his personality, as well.

"Bailey has amazing engagement on social media. A lot of this is coming from his own personal promotion and the network and community that he's created. It's been fun to be part of it. We're excited to see where it goes. It's not every day that you get to work with someone who has the reach that Bailey Flint has."

The gray T-shirts cost $24 and are available in an array of sizes. They are only available online. The sale runs through Sunday. Purchases are approaching 200. Jupmode will consider selling the shirt full-time if sales are strong.

"I can't say how ecstatic we are about this," Besteda said. "It will help us a lot. We have been very short during COVID. The kids have been lacking in a lot of areas, supplies, fun things, and some educational things that they need. Any donation is greatly appreciated."

"We don't quite know what we're going to use it for. Hopefully, we can use it toward educational items or a couple of things for the playground because as of now we don't have much for the playground. It'll help in many ways, no matter what the number is."

Gratitude never strays from Flint's daily routine. He's the first person from his family to graduate from high school, and now he has two undergraduate degrees and will soon have a master's.

Paying it forward to those who are less fortunate comes just as naturally as pinning an opponent inside the 10-yard line.

"I came to America with a high school diploma, a couple thousand dollars, a backpack, and a big duffle bag of clothes. I now have a fully furnished apartment, two undergraduate degrees, I'm about to get my master's degree, and a lot more money than when I started," said Flint, who has a degree in media communication and theater performance.

His five years at Toledo have provided the opportunity to perform in the university's production of All Quiet on the Western Front and study theater in Moscow. Flint has been an Academic All-MAC honoree and Academic All-American nominee. The past two seasons he has been on the Ray Guy watch list, given annually to the nation's top punter, and a nominee for the Wuerffel Trophy, which is presented to the player who best combines athletics, academics, and community service.

"What else do I need?" Flint said. "I'm sitting in a really good spot."

First Published October 20, 2021, 11:47am