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.