NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Elijah McAllister isn’t slowing down any time soon when it comes to off-the-field contributions.
Vanderbilt’s senior defensive end launched the All 4:1 and 1 For All Foundation this summer, an organization focusing on youth and philanthropic efforts in both McAllister’s home state of New Jersey and current residency in Nashville.
“My main things is going to be two things: Education and experience,” McAllister said. “How can I teach younger kids and peers alike different skills that I have learned and that people have taught me? And then, how can I help them experience things they don’t usually get to experience?
“It’s important for me. As you know I love doing community service and helping people out.”
McAllister, from Rumson, New Jersey, officially launched the foundation July 11 in Rumson where he was a standout at Rumson-Fair Haven High School. The 6-foot-6, 265-pound fifth-year senior hosted a football camp that day at his alma mater.
Current and former college players helped McAllister host the event and even former Vandy star Andre Mintze (now with the Minnesota Vikings) was in attendance. McAllister came up with the idea for naming the foundation by combining his original number at Vanderbilt (41) with his current No. 1.
He wants to hold similar events in Nashville in the future and is striving to grow the foundation.
“Just kind of wanted to do that more and do the things to a certain tailored focus that I really like,” he said. “The education experience has kind of really made me do it.
“It was really, really fun. I enjoyed it a lot. The kids had a lot of fun. I was able to get them around college athletes from all across the United States and the NFL. I’m glad they got the opportunity to experience that.
McAllister was named to the American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team as a senior and made the SEC Academic Honor Roll as a junior.
It is with extreme excitement that I announce the launch of this foundation which will focus on youth philanthropic efforts in the Jersey Shore & Nashville areas through education and experience.
LOVE AND GRATITUDE 🙏🏾❤️ #41:1 @All41OneforAlll pic.twitter.com/1kf9VtLYM0
— Elijah McAllister (@e_mcallister1) June 12, 2022
— Chad Bishop covers Vanderbilt Athletics for VUCommodores.com.
Follow him @MrChadBishop.
