“This is not just celebrity philanthropy from a distance”: Russell Wilson and Ciara’s Why Not You Foundation pledges $500,000 to fight hunger in Atlanta (Image via Getty: Russell Wilson and Ciara)
When she got her first Grammy in 2006, she told herself that she would never forget the city that made her. The NFL power couple Russell Wilson and Ciara’s heartwarming commitment to community support entered Atlanta’s emergency food distribution network when the Atlanta Community Food Bank became Why Not You Foundation’s beneficiary in 2025. The $500,000 contribution was expected to provide approximately one million meals. “It gives families a little bit of breathing room during this time of year [December 2025].
“There’s nothing better than giving back to a city that feels so proud of you,” she said via Town & Country Magazine. Atlanta mayor Andre Dickens told the magazine that the soaring cost of living forces local families to choose between paying rent and buying enough groceries. “This is not just celebrity philanthropy from a distance,” Atlanta mayor Andre Dickens said via Town & Country. “This donation means more meals and food for people who otherwise wouldn’t be able to eat,” Andre Dickens said at an event. “One in six children goes to bed hungry, and that has to change,” she said. “Our hope is that the gift of nourishment and security will empower more youth and families across Atlanta to reach for their dreams and lead each day with the ‘Why Not You’ attitude.”
She fell in love with the city and dreamt of pop stardom. “Ciara and Russell identified a real need in Atlanta.
The “Why Not You” attitude was established by Russell Wilson’s late father and former NFL player, Harrison Wilson III. Russell’s father often asked him, “Why not you?” when they talked about what he could achieve in life.