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Ray Lewis re-signed with the Ravens on 8/1/03...Signed a re-negotiated contract with Baltimore on 7/21/02...Signed a re-negotiated contract with Baltimore on 2/27/01...Signed a renegotiated contract with the Ravens on 11/20/98...Signed a renegotiated deal with Baltimore on 8/25/97...Was Baltimore's 2nd pick in the 1st round (26th overall) of the 1996 NFL Draft (after Jonathan Ogden was selected with the 4th overall choice in that draft)....The Ravens obtained the 26th pick from San Francisco in a 1995 draft-day trade...Was the 4th LB selected overall in the draft (Kevin Hardy - 2nd overall by Jacksonville, John Mobley - 15th overall by Denver and Reggie Brown - 17th overall by Detroit).
Highlights:
Seven-time Pro Bowler, 2-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl XXXV MVP, who is arguably the greatest linebacker and one of the best players in NFL history...Lewis started 6 games in 2005 before a hamstring injury and subsequent surgery ended his season...Was on pace for a superior year in 2005, posting 77 tackles (on pace for 205 tackles) before the injury...Started 15 games in 2004 (missing 1 due to a broken wrist)...Earned 2nd-straight Pro Bowl berth as he led the team (8th time in his career) with 200 tackles (3rd 200-tackle season), including 122 solo, 1 sack, 3 PD, 2 FRs and 1 FF in 2004...Also named 1st-team All Pro by the AP, 2nd-team All Pro by College and Pro Football Weekly and Football Digest and All Pro by the Sporting News in 2004...Earned 2003 AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors for the 2nd time (2000), becoming just the 6th player in NFL history to win multiple times (Lawrence Taylor - 3 times, Joe Greene, Mike Singletary, Bruce Smith and Reggie White - 2 times each)...Was the leading vote-getter (49 of 50) when he earned 1st-team AP All-Pro honors... Also earned Pro Football Weekly, PFWA and Football Digest Defensive MVP honors...Was named to Dr. Z's Sports Illustrated All-Pro team, Pro Football Weekly's All-NFL team, Pro Football Weekly's All-AFC team, Football Digest's All-Pro 1st-team, the Sporting News' All-Pro team and received the KC 101 AFC Defensive Player of the Year award for the 3rd time...Lewis and DE Bruce Smith are the only players to win the award 3 times...Finished the season with a franchise- record 225 tackles in 2003...Also recorded 13 PD, led all NFL LBs with 6 INTs and added 1.5 sacks, 2 FFs and 2 FR in the regular season...Lewis also led the team with 18 tackles in the postseason... Lewis has led the NFL in tackles 4 times (1997, 1999, 2001 and 2003)...In June 2003, Ray was voted the NFL's most dominant player by NFL head coaches (CBS Sportsline)...He received 10 votes and no other player received more than 2...Was limited to only 5 games in 2002 due to a shoulder injury...Still managed to rank 5th on the team with 85 tackles in those 5 games...Also posted 2 INTs, 2 PD, 1 FF and 1 FR in 2002...Earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors week 3 vs. Denver after posting 20 tackles (12 solo), 2 PD and an INT on Monday Night Football...Ray earned his 5th consecutive Pro Bowl in 2001 when he led the NFL in tackles (196)...Ray earned 1st-team All-Pro honors in 2001...He was the 2nd player in NFL history to win both NFL Defensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl MVP (2000)...DT Harvey Martin of Dallas won Defensive Player of the Year in 1977 and was co-MVP of Super Bowl XXII with DT Randy White...Pro Bowl starter and 1st-team All-Pro while leading the Ravens to the Super Bowl - all at age 25...The emotional and physical leader of the Ravens, Lewis was voted to his 4th straight Pro Bowl in 2000 and again led the team in tackles (187)...Named a unanimous All-Pro...In 2000, led a defense that set a 16-game single-season record for fewest points allowed (165), set the 16-game record for fewest rushing yards allowed (970), recorded 4 shutouts, 1 shy of the post-1970 merger record, and finished 1st league-wide in 6 key defensive categories...Led all NFL tacklers in 2000 postseason with 31 (44 after coaches video review)...In 1999, he was credited with 198 tackles (131 solo) by Ravens coaches, 167 total tackles according to NFL play-by-plays, which led all NFL tacklers (Tampa Bay's Derrick Brooks was 2nd with 153)...Ray made his 2nd trip to the Pro Bowl following the 1998 season after leading the Ravens for the 3rd straight year with 154 tackles...Also tabbed for The Sporting News All-Pro Team...Won the John Mackey Award in June of '97, as voted by his peers, as the AFC's best LB...In his 2nd NFL season, Ray served as the "veteran" leader of the Ravens' young linebacking corps in 1997, which consisted of Lewis and 5 rookies...Selected as the "needs" player for the victorious AFC squad in the 1997 Pro Bowl after leading the NFL with 210 tackles, 68 more than his team-leading total in 1996...Stepped into the starting MLB role in his rookie season at age 21 and earned USA Today's All-Rookie team honors after leading the Ravens with 142 tackles...Led the Ravens in tackles in 8 of his 10 years in the league (finished 5th on the team in 2002 after only playing in 5 games - shoulder injury and was 5th in 2005 after missing 10 games - hamstring injury).
Pro Career:
2005: Started the 1st 6 games of the season and recorded 77 tackles (was on pace for 205 tackles on the season), 1 sack, 3 PD, 1 INT and 1 FR before missing the final 10 games of the year after surgery to repair a torn hamstring...Placed on Injured Reserve on 12/8...2005 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Was inactive (hamstring) in games 7-12...Posted 13 tackles (5 solo) before leaving the game in the 4th quarter with a hamstring injury in game 6 at Chi. (10/23)...Was all over the field, leading the team with 10 tackles, 2 PD, an INT (which led to a FG) and a FR, which led to a TD, in game 5 vs. Cle. (10/16)...Earned defensive game ball for his effort vs. the Browns...Led the team with 14 tackles (9 solo), including 1 TFL and a QB hit in game 4 at Det. (10/9)...Paced the team with 13 tackles (10 solo) and his 1st sack of the season (-1 yard) in the 13-3 victory in game 3 vs. NYJ (10/2)...Started and led the team with 15 tackles (10 solo) and a PD in game 2 at Ten. (9/18)...Started at LB and picked up where he left off last season, leading the team with 12 tackles, including 9 solo, and 1 QB hit in game 1 vs. Ind. (9/11).
2004: Dynamic ILB earned his 7th Pro Bowl nod in 9 seasons after leading the Ravens with 200 tackles (the 3rd 200-tackle performance of his career), including 122 solo...Named 1st-team All Pro by the AP, 2nd-team All Pro by College and Pro Football Weekly and Football Digest and All Pro by The Sporting News in 2004...Lewis started the season's 1st 15 games, but missed game 16 vs. Mia. due to a broken wrist...Recovered 2 fumbles, had 3 PD, 1 sack and 1 FF...Two of his PD led to INTs by teammates, including 1 that Ed Reed returned 106 yards for a TD in game 8 vs. Cle., setting an NFL record...Posted a season-high 17 tackles, including 9 solo (surpassing 1,000 solo tackles for his career), and 1 TFL vs. Pit. (9/19)...2004 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Was a game-day inactive (broken wrist) in the 30-23 victory in the season finale vs. Mia. (1/2/05)...Led the team with 16 tackles, including 10 solo in game 15 at Pit. (12/26) while playing with a broken wrist...Recorded 10 tackles, including 7 solo and 1 FF in game 14 at Ind. (12/19), when he broke his wrist in the 1st half...Led the Ravens with 16 tackles, including 10 solo in the 30-10 victory in game 10 vs. Dal. (11/21)...Led the team with 12 tackles (8 solo), including 1 TFL and a PD, leading to an Ed Reed INT...Reed returned it an NFL record 106 yards for a TD to seal the win in game 8 vs. Cle. (11/7)...Posted 16 tackles (10 solo) and 1 PD, which led to a Chad Williams INT that he returned 94 yards...Ravens capitalized with a Matt Stover FG to extend the lead to 20-6 in game 6 vs. Buf. (10/24)...Led the team with 11 tackles (6 solo) as the Ravens held the Redskins to 107 total yards (2nd-lowest total in team history), including just 52 yards rushing in game 5 at Was. (10/10)...Led the team with 17 tackles, including 9 solo (surpassing 1,000 solo tackles for his career), including 1 for loss, and a QB hit in 30-13 win in game 2 vs. Pit. (9/19).
2003: Started all 16 games earning AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors for the 2nd time (2000), becoming just the 6th player in NFL history to win multiple times (Lawrence Taylor - 3 times, Joe Greene, Mike Singletary, Bruce Smith and Reggie White - 2 times each)...Earned his 6th Pro Bowl nod and was the leading vote-getter (49 of 50) for 1st-team AP All-Pro honors...Also earned Pro Football Weekly, PFWA and Football Digest Defensive MVP honors...Was named to Dr. Z's Sports Illustrated All-Pro team, Pro Football Weekly's All-NFL team, Pro Football Weekly's All-AFC team, Football Digest's All-Pro 1st-team, The Sporting News' All Pro team...Was named AFC Defensive Player of the Year by the KC 101 Club for the 3rd time in 4 years, and won the NFL Alumni LB of the Year award as he finished the season with a franchise-record 225 tackles...Also recorded 13 PD, led all NFL LBs with 6 INTs, 1.5 sacks, 2 FFs and 2 FRs in the regular season...2003 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Led team with a postseason franchise-record 18 tackles, including 12 solo in the Wild Card loss vs. Ten. (1/3/04)...Led team with 15 tackles (9 solo), 1 PD and 1 INT, his career-high 6th INT in the season finale vs. Pit. (12/28)...Earned Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance against the Steelers...Was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Month for November after posting 58 tackles (44 solo), a half-sack, 2 INTs (1 returned for a TD), 1 FF and 1 FR in that span...Tied a season-high with 19 tackles (16 solo) in game 12 vs. SF (11/30)...Lewis' PD was recorded on an INT he returned 29 yards for his 1st-career INT return for a TD (regular season)...Led the team with 14 tackles (10 solo), including 2 QB hits in game 5 at Ari. (10/12)...Started his 100th-career game and led the team with 19 tackles (12 solo) in game 4 vs. KC (9/28)...Started his 1st game after missing 11 games in 2002 with a shoulder injury in the season opener at Pit. (9/7), posting 14 tackles (9 solo) and 2 PD against the Steelers.
2002: Started 5 games before being placed on injured reserve (shoulder) on 11/26...Still managed to finish 5th on the team with 85 tackles (57 solo)...Also had 1 FF, 1 FR, 2 PD and 2 INTs for the seasson...Placed on IR (shoulder) on 11/26...2002 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Returned to the starting lineup week 10 at Mia. (11/17), after missing 5 games with a shoulder injury...Led the team with 18 tackles (13 solo) against the Dolphins...Was inactive weeks 5-9 with a shoulder injury (partial subluxation) suffered at Cle., breaking a streak of 63 consecutive starts...Started at ILB in 26-21 victory in game 4 at Cle. (10/6)...Paced team with 11 tackles (8 solo), despite missing the fourth quarter with a shoulder injury...Also had 1 INT and 1 FF, which he recovered...Both turnovers resulted in Ravens TDs on the ensuing possessions...Started at ILB and led the team with a season-high 20 tackles (12 solo) in game 3 vs. Den. (9/30)...Had an INT and 2 PD against the Broncos...Earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week award for his performance vs. the Broncos.
2001: First-team All-Pro and earned 5th consecutive Pro Bowl nod as he started all 16 games and led the team and the NFL with 196 tackles, the 6th consecutive year that he has led the Ravens in tackles...Made 2 tackles and scored a TD in the Pro Bowl...After CB Ty Law intercepted QB Donovan McNabb and ran 31 yards, he pitched the ball to Lewis, who rumbled 13 yards into the end zone while carrying 3 defenders on his back...2001 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Recorded 12 tackles (8 solo) and 2 INTs in a 16-0 win in game 14 vs. Cin. (12/23)...Recorded season-high 19 tackles (13 solo), including 1 sack and 2 TFL, in 39-27 win in game 12 vs. Ind. (12/2)...Led the team with 16 tackles (10 solo), including 1 sack in the 20-13 win in game 3 at Den. (9/30)...The defense held Denver to 61 yards rushing...Made 10 tackles (7 solo), including 2 TFL in game 2 at Cin. (9/23).
2000: NFL Defensive MVP and Super Bowl MVP...Pro Bowl Starter and 1st-Team All-Pro while leading the Ravens to the World Championship - all at age 25...Ray was voted to his 4th straight Pro Bowl and once again led the team with 187 tackles...Named unanimous All-Pro...Ravens 2000 Player of the Year by the QB Club of Baltimore...Was named AFC Defensive Player of the Year by the KC 101 Club...Led a defense that set a 16- game single-season record for fewest points allowed (165), set the 16-game record for fewest rushing yards allowed (970), recorded 4 shutouts, 1 shy of the post-1970 merger record, and finished ranked 1st in 6 key defensive categories...In the postseason, Ray led all NFL players with 44 tackles (28 solo), 2 INTs (one for a 50-yard TD at Ten. on 1/7/01), 7 PD and 1 FR...Baltimore outscored opponents 95-23 in the postseason and the defense permitted just 1 TD (a 2-yard rush by Titans' RB Eddie George)...2000 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Recorded 11 tackles (5 solo) and 4 PD in the Ravens' 34-7 win over the NYG (1/28/01) in Super Bowl XXXV...Led team with 12 total tackles, 1 INT (stolen from George) for a 50-yard TD in the Ravens' 24-10 AFC Divisional Playoff victory at Ten. (1/7/01)...Named NFL Defensive Player of the Year prior to the Titans' game and had 9 solo tackles...Recorded a game-high 15 tackles (14 solo), 1 FR and had 2 TFL in the Ravens' 13-7 win in game 15 at Ari. (12/17)...Led all tacklers with 16 stops (11 solo) in game 9 vs. Pit. (10/29)... Had 20 tackles (13 solo), in game 7 at Was. (10/15)...Led the team with 10 tackles in the Ravens 12-0 shutout win in game 5 at Cle. (10/1), the 1st consecutive shutout win by a team since the 1985 Bears...Had 5 stops from scrimmage in the Ravens' 37-0 win in game 4 vs. Cin. (9/24), as the defense limited the Bengals to 4 yards rushing, 94 total net yards and 7 1st downs, all Ravens records.
1999: Pro Bowl starter and named AP, Sports Illustrated, Pro Football Weekly, The Sporting News, Football Digest and USA Today First-Team All-Pro...Named to Football News and Pro Football Weekly's All-AFC Team and College & Pro Football Newsweekly's 2nd-Team All-Pro...Also won the NFL Alumni Linebacker of the Year Award...Named Ravens 1999 Player of the Year by the QB Club of Baltimore...Led the team and the NFL with 198 tackles...Also had 3.5 QB sacks, a career-high 3 INTs, 8 PD and 1 FF...Recorded double digits in tackles in 11 games...1999 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Led the team with 11 tackles (7 solo), 1 FF, a 19-yard INT, 1 PD and 1 TFL in game 14 vs. NO (12/19), as the defense set team records by allowing only 11 rushing yards and 8 total 1st downs in the 31-8 win...Led team with 12 tackles in 31-24 win in game 13 at Pit. (12/12)...Recorded 13 stops (9 solo) and a half-sack, plus a PD in the Ravens' 41-14 win in game 12 vs. Ten. (12/5)...Surpassed the 600-tackle mark in game 7 vs. Buf. (10/31) by recording 16 tackles (13 solo), including a 2-yard sack...Played in 50th career game in game 6 vs. KC (10/21)...Had 18 stops (12 solo) in game 2 vs. Pit. (9/19)...Recorded 15 tackles, including an 8-yard sack, a career-long 60-yard INT return, 2 TFL and 1 PD in game 1 at STL (9/12).
1998: Voted to the Pro Bowl as one of two MLBs (along with Junior Seau)...Also named All-Pro by The Sporting News and 2nd-team All-Pro by AP...Led team with 154 tackles despite missing almost 3 games with a dislocated elbow...Also had 2 INTs, 3 sacks, 10 PD and 1 FF...1998 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Recorded season-high 17 tackles in game 14 vs. Min. (12/13) and was on the field for all 92 plays against the Vikings...Had a game-high 10 tackles in 38-31 win in game 12 vs. Ind. (11/29), to give him 100 on the season...Had 7 stops (3 solo) in game 8 vs. Jax. (11/1), to surpass the career 400-tackle mark in only his 36th NFL game...Recorded 8 tackles and a pressure in game 7 at GB (10/25)...Returned to starting lineup in game 6 at Pit. (10/18) after missing 11 quarters with a dislocated elbow and led the team with 11 tackles (9 solo)...Helped limit Pit. to 241 net yards and 1 TD...Led all tacklers with 11 (9 solo) in game 1 vs. Pit. (9/6), including a 1-yard sack.
1997: Received the John Mackey Award, voted on by his peers, as the AFC's best linebacker...Selected as the "needs player" for the Pro Bowl...Was named to Dr. Z's Sports Illustrated All-Pro Team, College & Pro Football Weekly All-Pro (1st team) and Football Digest's All-NFL (2nd team)...Named Ravens 1997 MVP by the Baltimore QB Club...Led the NFL with 210 tackles, 68 more than his team-leading total as a rookie in 1996...Tied for 4th on team with 4 sacks, 9 PD, an INT, and 1 FF...1997 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Posted a 5-tackle performance in game 16 at Cin. (12/21) to solidify NFL tackle lead...Recorded 22 stops (15 solo), 1 sack and 2 PD in 21-19 win in game 15 vs. Ten. (12/14)...Made a game-high 16 tackles, in addition to recording 2 QB pressures and a QB hurry in game 9 at NYJ (11/2)...Named AFC Defensive Player of the Week after Ravens 20-17 win in game 8 at Was. (10/26)...Recorded a game-high 17 total tackles, 1 sack and his 2nd career INT off of Gus Frerotte to seal the 20-17 win...Recorded a Ravens' record 25 tackles, as well as 2 PD, in 24-23 win in game 3 at NYG (9/14)...Won Pro Football Weekly's Defensive Player of the Week award.
1996: Named to USA Today's All-Rookie team (selected by Jarrett Bell)...Led the Ravens with 142 tackles (avg. 10.1 per game)...Had 2.5 QB sacks, 6 PD and 1 INT...Recorded double digits in tackles in 7 of his 14 games...Led or tied for team tackle lead in 10 games...Had 7 starts at MLB in 4-3 and 6 starts at ILB in 3-4...1996 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Led team with 13 stops in game 16 vs. Hou. (12/22)...Had game-high 10 tackles (9 solo) in game 14 at Cin. (12/8), including a half-sack, plus 1 PD..Started at LILB in 3-4 defense in 37-31 OT win in game 8 vs. STL (10/29) and recorded season-high 16 stops, 15 solo...Named AFC Defensive Player of the Week after win in game 1 vs. Oak. (9/1)...Recorded 9 tackles and 1 INT in the end zone in Ravens 19-14 win over Raiders...Missed 2 games: game 11 at SF (11/17) (ankle) and game 15 at Car. (12/22) (hip).
College Career:
Three-year starter at Miami who came out after his 1995 junior season... Consensus All-American and runner-up for the Butkus Award...Finished 5th on Miami's all-time tackles chart with 388 career stops, including 19 TFL and 6 sacks...Led the Hurricanes in tackles for 22 consecutive games and led the Big East Conference in tackles for 2 straight seasons...Finished junior season (1995) with a team-high 160 tackles and earned consensus 1st-team All-America and All-Big East honors...Member of Playboy All-America team...Tackle total was 2nd in Hurricane history (since Ed Weisacosky's 164 in 1965)...Started every game at MLB as a sophomore (1994), earning 1st-team All-Big East honors, and 1st-team All-America honors from The Poor Man's Guide to the NFL Draft and Football News...Led team with 152 tackles, including 9 TFL and 2 sacks...Played his way into the starting lineup as a freshman (1993), starting the final 5 games...Totaled 81 tackles, 2 TFL, 4 PD and 2 sacks...Earned Freshman All-America honors by The Gridiron Report...Majored in Arts and Sciences.
Personal:
Team MVP in both junior and senior seasons at Kathleen (Lakeland, FL) HS...Played LB, RB and returned KOs and punts...Recorded 207 tackles with 10 sacks, 5 FRs and 8 INTs (3 for TDs) in HS...Returned 4 punts and 2 KORs for TDs...Rushed for 591 yards and scored 8 TDs as a RB...Blocked 3 FGs as a senior and 3 FGs and 2 PATs as a junior...Was the State 4A Wrestling Champ in the 189 lb. weight class...Enjoys fishing, camping, swimming and basketball...Ray has a website, RayLewis52.com...Spoke to the NFL rookies in June 2000 at the NFL's Rookie Symposium about the need to be careful about associations and circumstances...A parade and day in Ray's honor was held in his hometown of Lakeland, FL on 4/14/01...Ray contributed money to help with the remodeling of The Greater Faith Missionary Baptist Church in Lakeland...Participated in the Snapple Superstars competition in May 2001...Ray hosted Super Bowl Parties for the children at the Baltimore Ravens Courage House at St. Vincent's in February of 2000...In December 2000, Ray teamed up with radio stations 92Q and Magic 95.9 to ask Ravens fans and members of the Baltimore community to help him with his Holiday Toy Drive...Ray donated the toys to the Cherry Hill Housing Authority, The Baltimore City Department of Social Services and The Bradford Reading Program in Sandtown, MD...Ray also adopted 10 families in Baltimore City community for the holidays and answered their Christmas wish lists...Ray's 3rd annual celebrity auction and bowling tournament, held in May 2004, raised $230,000 for the Ray Lewis Foundation, which helps provide assistance to disadvantaged youth...Hosted the Great Maryland Duck Derby 8/10/03 at HarborView Marina & Yacht Club, where 20,000 'adopted' rubber ducks were dropped in Baltimore's Inner Harbor and raced for prizes, with all proceeds going to the Ray Lewis Foundation...On May 2, 2003, Ray Lewis gave $3,000 scholarships to 2 students from his alma mater, Kathleen HS....Ray provided new computers and online connectivity to Simpson Community Center in Lakeland, FL in 2002...Ray donates a tractor-trailer load of food and personal care boxes annually to 440 of Baltimore's neediest families to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal in the privacy of their homes...Each family receives a 12-14 lb. turkey, a box weighing about 26-lb. containing canned and non-perishable food items, a box weighing about 15-lbs containing personal care and hygiene items and Girl Scout cookies...During the season, Ray provides 52 home-game tickets to various nonprofit organizations in Baltimore City...Lewis hosted his annual Back-to-School Kickoff Event in September 2004...Along with Office Depot and Frito Lay, the Ray Lewis Foundation provided 1,200 Baltimore city students with a free bookbag, school supplies and snacks...Held the 2nd annual Ray Lewis Great Maryland Duck Derby in October 2004 at the Padonia Park Club, where 10,000 'adopted' rubber ducks were dropped in the park's lake and raced for prizes...Proceeds benefited the Ray Lewis Foundation...Teamed up with the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland to host the Holiday Gift Marketplace in December...Over 200 youth in Baltimore were allowed to choose a gift for themselves and another for a loved one for the holidays, imparting the 'gift of giving'...Lewis established a relationship with Van Brooks, a high school junior and football player who suffered a severe spinal cord injury during a game in September 2004...Ray helped raise funds for Brooks' recovery effort, visited the young man in the hospital and continues to speak with him often...Once again, provided 52 tickets to Baltimore area non-profit organizations for home games throughout the season...Opened the Ray Lewis Full Moon Bar-B-Que located in Baltimore's Canton neighborhood in February 2005...Named a finalist for the Byron 'Whizzer' White Humanitarian Award, given to an NFL player who exemplifies dedication to team, community and country...Ray kept a promise to his mother, which he made when he left the University of Miami after his junior year by graduating from the University of Maryland University College on 5/15/04...Not only did Ray finish the 24 credits he had remaining to earn his degree in business administration, but he was on the dean's list for most of the time he was enrolled...Once again joined forces with the Feed the Children Organization, Girl Scouts of Central Maryland, Unilever, Frito Lay, and Giant Foods to provide 400 families with a 12-14 lb turkey, canned and non-perishable food items, personal care and hygiene items, fresh vegetables, dinner rolls and assorted snacks for needy families for Thanksgiving in 2005...Hosted his 2nd annual Rays Summer Days in June 2006, with funds benefiting his foundation; Events included a 5K run/walk, community festival, comedy jam, golf outing and reception... Held his annual Back to School event in early September, where he teamed with Office Depot and others to provide necessary school items (bookbags, paper, etc) to Baltimore city students...Ray has joined with Hall of Fame RB Gale Sayers and entrepreneur Mark Bloomquist to form S&L Racing, which will race both cars and trucks...The team will be headquartered in North Carolina, and already races in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series...Lewis was also honored with a JB award (named in honor of CBS broadcaster James Brown) during the 2006 offseason: Received the "Act of Kindness" Award for his tireless work in the community...Lewis and Paralympic Gold Medalist Cheri Blauwet joined with the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation (VVAF) to support and advise the creation of a new Sports for Life program in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia...They pair traveled to the war-torn region in March, 2006 to deliver wheelchairs, crutches and orthopedic devices to patients...They also consulted with therapists and social workers about possible beneficial uses for sports and recreation... Lewis returned to the United States and has been involved in pressing political (spoke to congress in June), business and philanthropic leaders for a stronger commitment to disability sport both here and in the developing world...Full name: Ray Anthony Lewis. |
