It was one of the largest crowds to turn out for the annual United Way of Thomas County’s campaign kickoff Wednesday — and the keynote speaker had a message that was truly his own.

Warrick Dunn, the former Florida State University and National Football League star, delivered a powerful statement about the power of giving back. Admittedly not the biggest guy on the football field, Dunn spent 12 seasons in the NFL and was chosen to the Pro Bowl three times.

But through his Warrick Dunn Charities and his Home for the Holidays organization, which seeks to put single-parent families in homes of their own, his impact off the field has been huge.

The soft-spoken and earnest Dunn has a story to tell about his life. During his senior year of high school in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, his mother, a police officer, was shot and killed in an armed robbery attempt. It left Dunn in charge of his handful of younger siblings. With his mother’s life insurance, he bought a home for his family. But they still needed help paying the bills, and the rest of Baton Rouge stepped up to help Dunn and his family meet those needs.

When Dunn retired from professional football, he was 37 yards shy of reaching 11,000 yards rushing for his career, a mark only 21 other players in NFL history have hit. “I probably should ask Mr. Blank if I could suit up,” Dunn quipped, referring to Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank. Dunn is a limited partner in the Falcons’ ownership but acknowledged he has no desire to put the pads on again and return to the field. Dunn also has had a long connection to Thomas County, since his roommate his freshman year at FSU was senior quarterback Charlie Ward.

The United Way of Thomas County has set its campaign goal of $228,000, and the money raised through Wednesday’s auction and especially through the Rotary Club of Thomasville’s golf tournament has the drive off to a strong start.

The United Way supports 18 local agencies and as local board president Gene McNease said, “These organizations touch every corner of our community. The United Way touches every family in some way or fashion.”

McNease also drew upon the words of the late legendary college basketball coach John Wooden, who drew a distinction between activity and achievement.

“The campaign is successful because we recognize the difference between activity and achievement,” he said. “We are about achieving our goal of raising our funds and funding those activities that impact our lives.”

Thanks to Warrick Dunn and the United Way of Thomas County, the campaign’s kickoff is off to a strong start and we hope it surpasses its goal.