As a walk-on athlete himself, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield knows things don’t come easy in life. So, after finding a stable home in Tampa, he realized the need to create equal opportunities for those who can’t do it themselves. Three years after founding the ‘Baker & Emily Mayfield Foundation‘, he made an announcement that has left his wife, Emily, speechless.

On November 13, Baker Mayfield announced through a collaborative Instagram post that he and Emily had been named “Family Philanthropist of the Year” by Tampa Bay Business and Wealth Magazine. Emily simply responded to the post with: “♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️.”

Her comment was later pinned under the post. While Emily did not have words to express her emotions, those red heart emojis showed her appreciation for the recognition.

As the magazine honored the Mayfields for their role in uplifting the community, the couple made sure to express their gratitude to the city that continues to inspire them.

“Tampa Bay, this one’s for you ✨,” stated the caption of Baker’s Instagram post.

“Being named Family Philanthropist of the Year by @tbbwmag is especially meaningful because you are the reason we do what we do. We’re proud to serve a community defined by strength, generosity, and true Tampa Bay spirit. Thank you for believing in our mission and inspiring us to keep giving back. We are just getting started 💙🤍”

Philanthropy is Tampa Bay’s identity. And Tampa Bay Business and Wealth does its part by honoring those who make the community strong by hosting an Annual Philanthropists of the Year Awards. This year, the awards program was held on November 12 with a cocktail reception and sit-down dinner at Armature Works at 6 p.m. This was their fifth such event.

Apart from the Mayfields’ foundation, other finalists in the family foundations category were: Bucalo Family Foundation, Hessel Family Foundation, and The No More Foundation.

Three judges from the Tampa Bay area select a winner from the finalists in various categories out of over 200 nominations. This year’s judges included Brian Best, president and chief executive officer of GTE Financial, Elodie Dorso, CEO of Evara Health, and Opal Hudson, community leader.

The QB and his wife have not yet addressed the award apart from the posts. But even without delivering any speeches, their work has represented them louder in the Tampa Bay community.

Baker & Emily Mayfield Foundation making a difference

The mission statement of the Baker and Emily Mayfield Foundation is simple: “We provide programs, scholarships, and philanthropic opportunities to help others tackle life’s challenges in order to be the best version of themselves.”

Last December, through the Foundation’s “Passing the Joy” holiday initiative, Mayfield delivered meals and gifts to nearly 100 children. Emily even shared that the children would receive gift cards from the Foundation so they could “pass the joy” forward. 

This year, though, the Bucs’ quarterback expanded the impact of his Foundation. Baker and Emily introduced the Walk-On Scholarship program to support walk-on student-athletes. They awarded two scholarships worth $10,000 each to sophomores, juniors, seniors, or graduate students who compete as walk-ons.

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Walk-ons often fight for a chance just to stay on the roster without the financial support that scholarship athletes receive. Just last month, the foundation named Charles Emanuel III, a Florida Gators edge rusher, as the second recipient of the 2025 scholarship. 

The initiative is close to Baker Mayfield, who became the first walk-on Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 draft pick in the NFL in 2018. And in the entire premise of his foundation, of creating opportunities, also hits home.

The Cleveland Browns picked the QB as the first overall pick in 2018. However, he moved to three different teams in a span of under five years. Finally, when he got to Tampa Bay, he found a permanent place to call home. Now, the two ensure that everyone reaches their potential without any hurdles.

On the field, Baker Mayfield will help the Bucs keep their domination in the NFC South as they will fly to Buffalo to take on the Bills at Highmark Stadium for Week 11.