Philanthropy

The 49ers partnered with Furry Friends Pet Assisted Therapy Services for animal therapy, while providing confidence building activities for students in the Leland High School special needs program in an effort to erase the stigma attached to special needs. Johnson and his teammates spent time with students with autism, mental illness and learning disabilities as they play board games, working on social skills including conversational queues and eye contact through the hands-on activity. Players will also partner with animal therapy dogs to uplift students through one-on-one interactions. “Our job is a day-to-day job, if you want to put it that way,” said Johnson. “Something like this allows you to be a human again, I guess you could say. You can put work to the side. When it’s all said and done, this world should be about helping people. And everyone being respectful to each other, regardless of differences of race or ethnicity. That’s what drives me to be out here. It brings me joy.”

In October of 2017, the 49ers partnered with Bags of Fun to deliver backpacks to children undergoing treatment at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital. Each bag was personalized with educational, interactive and fun toys to provide joy, laughter and relief from the stress and anxiety of being in the hospital. Johnson and his teammates spent time with patients receiving Bags of Fun and other families in the hospital to uplift them during a difficult time.