For Vikings linebacker Troy Dye, his focus for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative is close to home. In quite the literal sense.
Dye supports The Leela Project, which originated in Riverside County, California, where Dye grew up.
The Leela Project is a nonprofit organization that focuses on providing literacy training, mentorship and academic counseling for underrepresented youth in communities across California.
Dye grew up with the founder, Dominick, and actually played football with him in high school.
View photos of Vikings players' custom cleats in honor of the NFL's 2022 My Cause My Cleats initiative that allows players to represent causes that are important to them.
Brian Asamoah II, LB
Organization: NFL Foundation
Cause: Youth enrichment and athletics
Brian Asamoah II, LB
Organization: NFL Foundation
Cause: Youth enrichment and athletics
Garrett Bradbury, C
Organization: M Health Fairview Masonic Children's Hospital
Cause: Youth health
Garrett Bradbury, C
Organization: M Health Fairview Masonic Children's Hospital
Cause: Youth health
Blake Brandel, T
Organization: American Cancer Society
Cause: Health / Cancer research
Blake Brandel, T
Organization: American Cancer Society
Cause: Health / Cancer research
Camryn Bynum, S
Organization: Keys to Freedom Ministries
Cause: Social justice (faith-based)
Camryn Bynum, S
Organization: Keys to Freedom Ministries
Cause: Social justice (faith-based)
Ezra Cleveland, G
Organization: Pat Tillman Foundation
Cause: Military member and veteran support
Ezra Cleveland, G
Organization: Pat Tillman Foundation
Cause: Military member and veteran support
Ryan Connelly, LB
Organization: Breath of Hope Foundation
Cause: Cancer awareness
Ryan Connelly, LB
Organization: Breath of Hope Foundation
Cause: Cancer awareness
Dalvin Cook, RB
Organization: Minnesota Vikings Foundation
Cause: Youth enrichment
Dalvin Cook, RB
Organization: Minnesota Vikings Foundation
Cause: Youth enrichment
Kirk Cousins, QB
Organization: International Justice Mission
Cause: Anti human-trafficking
Kirk Cousins, QB
Organization: International Justice Mission
Cause: Anti human-trafficking
Andrew DePaola, LS
Organization: Bo's Effort
Cause: Mental health
Andrew DePaola, LS
Organization: Bo's Effort
Cause: Mental health
Troy Dye, LB
Organization: The Leela Project
Cause: Youth
Troy Dye, LB
Organization: The Leela Project
Cause: Youth
Ben Ellefson, TE
Organization: Gigi's Playhouse
Cause: Down syndrome awareness
Ben Ellefson, TE
Organization: Gigi's Playhouse
Cause: Down syndrome awareness
Akayleb Evans, CB
Organization: Minnesota Vikings Foundation
Cause: Youth enrichment
Akayleb Evans, CB
Organization: Minnesota Vikings Foundation
Cause: Youth enrichment
C.J. Ham, FB
Organization: Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
Cause: Cancer awareness
C.J. Ham, FB
Organization: Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
Cause: Cancer awareness
Kyle Hinton, G
Organization: Play the Next Play
Cause: Military member and veteran support
Kyle Hinton, G
Organization: Play the Next Play
Cause: Military member and veteran support
T.J. Hockenson, TE
Organization: Warrior Rising
Cause: Military member and veteran support
T.J. Hockenson, TE
Organization: Warrior Rising
Cause: Military member and veteran support
Danielle Hunter, OLB
Organization: Boys & Girls Clubs
Cause: Youth enrichment
Danielle Hunter, OLB
Organization: Boys & Girls Clubs
Cause: Youth enrichment
Ed Ingram, G
Organization: AdopteeBridge
Cause: Adoption
Ed Ingram, G
Organization: AdopteeBridge
Cause: Adoption
Justin Jefferson, WR
Organization: Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ)
Cause: Youth education
Justin Jefferson, WR
Organization: Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ)
Cause: Youth education
Patrick Jones II, OLB
Organization: NAMI
Cause: Mental health
Patrick Jones II, OLB
Organization: NAMI
Cause: Mental health
Vederian Lowe, T
Organization: Shriner's Hospital
Cause: Youth health
Vederian Lowe, T
Organization: Shriner's Hospital
Cause: Youth health
James Lynch, DL
Organization: Pat Tillman Foundation
Cause: Military member and veteran support
James Lynch, DL
Organization: Pat Tillman Foundation
Cause: Military member and veteran support
Alexander Mattison, RB
Organization: I Am Gifted
Cause: Mental health awareness and suicide prevention
Alexander Mattison, RB
Organization: I Am Gifted
Cause: Mental health awareness and suicide prevention
Nick Mullens, QB
Organization: Disabled American Veterans Charity
Cause: Military member and veteran support
Nick Mullens, QB
Organization: Disabled American Veterans Charity
Cause: Military member and veteran support
Kene Nwangwu, RB
Organization: March of Dimes
Cause: Infant health
Kene Nwangwu, RB
Organization: March of Dimes
Cause: Infant health
Brian O'Neill, T
Organization: Autism Speaks
Cause: Autism awareness
Brian O'Neill, T
Organization: Autism Speaks
Cause: Autism awareness
K.J. Osborn, WR
Organization: The Salvation Army
K.J. Osborn, WR
Organization: The Salvation Army
Harrison Phillips, DT
Organization: Harrison's Playmakers
Cause: Youth & special needs
Harrison Phillips, DT
Organization: Harrison's Playmakers
Cause: Youth & special needs
Harrison Phillips, DT
Organization: Harrison's Playmakers
Cause: Youth & special needs
Jalen Reagor, WR
Organization: Black Men Heal
Cause: Mental health
Jalen Reagor, WR
Organization: Black Men Heal
Cause: Mental health
Chris Reed, OL
Organization: American Heart Association
Cause: Heart health
Chris Reed, OL
Organization: American Heart Association
Cause: Heart health
Harrison Smith, S
Organization: Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities
Cause: Youth mentorship
Harrison Smith, S
Organization: Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities
Cause: Youth mentorship
Irv Smith, Jr., TE
Organization: American Cancer Society
Cause: Health / Cancer research
Irv Smith, Jr., TE
Organization: American Cancer Society
Cause: Health / Cancer research
Za'Darius Smith, OLB
Organization: Good Life Foundation
Cause: Youth
Za'Darius Smith, OLB
Organization: Good Life Foundation
Cause: Youth
Josh Sokol, C
Organization: Life4Evan
Cause: Youth health
Josh Sokol, C
Organization: Life4Evan
Cause: Youth health
Adam Thielen, WR
Organization: Thielen Foundation
Cause: Youth enrichment and mental health
Adam Thielen, WR
Organization: Thielen Foundation
Cause: Youth enrichment and mental health
Olisaemekah Udoh, T
Organization: Minnesota Vikings Foundation
Cause: Youth enrichment
Olisaemekah Udoh, T
Organization: Minnesota Vikings Foundation
Cause: Youth enrichment
D.J. Wonnum
Organization: Secondhand Hounds
Cause: Pet adoption
D.J. Wonnum
Organization: Secondhand Hounds
Cause: Pet adoption
Head Coach Kevin O'Connell
Organization: Jessie Rees Foundation: NEGU
Cause: Pediatric Cancer
Head Coach Kevin O'Connell
Organization: Jessie Rees Foundation: NEGU
Cause: Pediatric Cancer
GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah
Organizations: Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective; Touchstone Mental Health
Cause: Mental Health
GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah
Organizations: Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective; Touchstone Mental Health
Cause: Mental Health
"(We) connected and hit it off. It's something that I was able to give back to," Dye said.
The Leela Project, named after Dominick's grandmother, equips the next generation with education and empowers them with confidence and a sense of purpose, knowing everyone's journey is indeed different.
He paid closer attention to The Leela Project at the beginning of the pandemic when he realized he was positioned to give back when many people were struggling.
For Dye, The Leela Project serves a specific initiative that resonates with him in a big way because the organization focuses on youth, specifically boys, who are misguided and misrepresented.
"I mean, a lot of youth, young boys, get overlooked because men are supposed to be strong and fight through on their own," Dye says. "Nobody cares about the feelings and the hardships you go through. We all go through things.
"To have that connection and give back, whether I'm physically there or not, it's huge," Dye continued. "With the resources I have, I try to give back."
With the means that Dye has as an NFL player, giving back was something he knew he had to do, especially for youth in an area he's plenty familiar with who might be dealing with an unstable homelife, financial struggles or a lack of support.
The third-year linebacker is grateful the My Cause My Cleats initiative helps him make a difference and has introduced him to worthy causes and initiatives supported by teammates and opponents.
"There's a lot of great causes out there; there's a lot of young people who are out here giving back, whether it's cancer, or [supporting] animals, people who are less fortunate," Dye said. "As pro athletes, we don't get recognized as human beings that like to support causes and have family and friends, so the NFL does a great job with allowing guys to showcase that. It opens eyes to a lot of great causes people don't know about."
You can learn more about The Leela Project here.
