Semaj Morgan, a wide receiver for UCLA and 2024 national champion with Michigan, has focused much of his energy beyond the football field on charitable work in his hometown of Detroit. At 17, Morgan launched the Semaj J. Morgan Foundation with the goal of addressing food insecurity and educational disparities within his community. While still balancing his collegiate football career and graduate studies, he continues to lead a range of philanthropic initiatives that have garnered attention both locally and within collegiate athletics circles.
The foundation officially began operations in February 2023 after Morgan’s parents legally established the organization on his behalf due to his age at the time. Since then, it has conducted multiple large-scale food drives, distributing thousands of turkeys, food bags, hot meals, and winter clothing essentials like hats, coats, scarves, and gloves to families facing economic hardship in Detroit. Additionally, the foundation supports back-to-school programs by providing children with backpacks and school supplies intended to boost their confidence and help close educational gaps, an effort Morgan’s father, Semaj T. Morgan, emphasized as integral to the foundation’s mission.
One of the foundation’s distinctive programs is its DiscoverWorks Summer initiative, funded in part by a grant from the Ballmer Group. This program serves approximately 250 families, offering academic support such as test preparation alongside enrichment activities including robotics, mentoring, and field trips. Morgan’s outreach also extends to organizing gatherings for parents who have lost children to gun violence, commemorating their loved ones on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. These events, which have grown significantly since their inception, provide emotional support and a sense of community to grieving families, many of whom have unresolved cases.
Morgan’s philanthropic commitment has earned recognition from Michigan state legislators and led to his nomination for the inaugural Big Ten Jackie Robinson Community & Impact Award. Despite his relative youth, Morgan’s father describes him as highly driven by a sense of purpose beyond football and material success, prioritizing service and community upliftment.
The foundation’s philosophy is deeply influenced by Curtis Blackwell, Morgan’s former travel football coach and president of Sound Mind Sound Body Sports Academy. Blackwell advocates for education alongside athletics and life skills and has played a key role in broadening exposure for Michigan’s high school players, including Morgan, who received more than 25 college football offers. Blackwell praised Morgan for embodying the principle of “lift as you climb,” highlighting his early and sustained commitment to giving back.
Currently pursuing a master’s degree at UCLA while competing in collegiate football, Morgan manages his foundation from the West Coast but remains closely connected to Detroit. He may miss the foundation’s annual events during UCLA’s November game in Ann Arbor, though his coach has permitted him to remain in Michigan afterward. Reflecting on his journey, Morgan said that the most meaningful accomplishments come not from athletic achievements but from the ongoing opportunity to positively impact the lives of people in his hometown. He envisions continuing his philanthropic efforts in the future, including the eventual establishment of football programs designed to benefit young people in Detroit.