Those who follow Baker Mayfield’s life know that his impact goes beyond the football field. “Be strong, be resilient, be successful, be more,” this was the motto of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback’s foundation that he launched with his wife, Emily Wilknison, in 2023. The project, aimed at the welfare of people in the Bay Area, has hit a new milestone, and the couple couldn’t help but thank everyone who played their part.
On Tuesday, the two shared a video on the official IG account of their organization, the Baker & Emily Mayfield Foundation. It came into being three years ago with a mission to uplift communities in Tampa Bay, Florida, by focusing on childhood education, community grants, and supporting student athletes through various initiatives. One of them is the Giving Bowl, an annual fundraising competition. This year, Baker Mayfield and his wife raised $300,000 in donations,
“The 2026 Giving Bowl has officially come to a close, a champion has been crowned, and thanks to all of you, it was our biggest year yet, with all of the six competing charities raising over $300,000,” Emily Mayfield said.
“We also want to give a huge congratulations to our two champions, Emeka Egbuka and the Children’s Home Network,” Baker added. “With that in mind, we will be granting an additional $50,000 to help support. Thank you again to everyone who participated. We’re so proud to support the Tampa Bay community and continue making a difference together.”
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The Giving Bowl is a fun competition between athlete-supported charities in the Tampa Bay area. They compete for the prize money of $50,000. The elimination process is based on the amount of money raised in each round. And the non-profits can’t carry the amount raised in previous rounds to the next one.
This year’s champion was star wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, who was supporting The Children’s Home Network. The organisation raised $152,282 to bag the prize. It is the record amount collected in the history of the Giving Bowl. Not only did this competition bring in a lot of funds, but it also cemented the quarterback’s legacy as a community figure.
In December 2025, the NFL nominated Baker for its prestigious Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. It recognizes people taking up significant philanthropic work and running outreach programmes, along with their on-field performance. While Bobby Wagner received the honor, Mayfield was grateful to be on the nomination list that included many outstanding athletes. Describing the experience as “humbling,” the QB stressed that the responsibilities of professional athletes extend far beyond their NFL numbers.
When it comes to this year’s Giving Bowl results, many people congratulated Baker Mayfield and his wife on their new feat.
Baker Mayfield and his wife received praise on social media
“God bless you for making a beautiful difference! 
,” one user wrote, while another showed their support through clapping emojis.
Since joining the Buccaneers in 2023, Mayfield has made it his mission to provide young people with learning opportunities. His organization’s first event focused on childhood literacy, and it showed significant results within two years. Through ‘Be the Ball’ events, the foundation raised $600,000 and used it to benefit the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County.
“Thank you for everything you do to support our community, we are truly blessed!” another user commented.
The QB launched two more initiatives the following year, including the Be Resilient walk-on scholarship and the Giving Bowl. The first programme offered $10,000 scholarships to support young athletes from weak financial backgrounds. No wonder it is such a hit each year.
“Emily Mayfield and Baker Mayfield are amazing people,” the third user commented, who knows Emily from before. “I knew Emily Mayfield at Westside High School in Omaha, Nebraska, class of 2009. Nicest person u will ever meet.”
“Another reason why baker mayfield is the goat,” one comment read. The Tampa Bay quarterback is often in the news because of his community work. In 2024, he and Emily donated $17,900 worth of equipment to Space Coast’s high school/junior football team, which went on to win the SSAA 1A State Championship that year. That makes for an elite quality in the QB.
“Doing amazing work, Baker and Emily! 
” another user shared.
These comments show how Baker and Emily are viewed as genuine people who are making the right use of their wealth and the privilege that comes with it. One user offered blessings for the couple and their future baby. The couple sure is an example of how to make giving a fun yet rewarding experience!
