Collins Tuohy: Charitable Champion

Joey Miller

Magnify

Despite her 24 years of age, Collins is already a philanthropic superstar. Having gained international renown as the adoptive sister of Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Michael Oher, whose story is detailed in the book and film entitled The Blind Side, Collins has recently become an inspiration on her own.

Collins sits on the Board of Directors of Making It Happen: The Tuohy Family Foundation. The Foundation specializes in “behind-the-scenes” work, repairing public basketball courts and benefitting Memphis City Schools like Douglass High School and White Station High School. Collins spends much of her time traveling across the country delivering inspirational speeches to promote the Foundation’s mission to support schools and underprivileged children. In her speeches, she advocates foster care, adoption and efforts for nationwide literacy. At her most recent event in Oklahoma, she spoke to benefactors of Oklahoma City’s nonprofit Whiz Kids, which provides tutoring and mentoring to at-risk students.

Collins receives support from her family, and she believes she inherited her altruism from her parents, whom she describes as “cheerful givers.” She has also learned humility and magnanimity from her adoptive brother. “He is not a preacher,” she explains. “More, he is an example of the way he lives everyday, and he is so encouraging.”

Refusing to accept youth as a limitation, Collins has made it her mission to encourage people of all ages to help others. “Maybe one person can’t change the world,” she says, “but you can change the world for one person.” The young Memphis native has spoken at four colleges so far, as well as countless adult-level conferences and business conventions. She enjoys working as a volunteer cheerleading coach at Douglass High School because it allows her to connect with those she is helping at a more personal level. She wishes more people recognized that “the power of the small things makes the biggest difference,” and she challenges young men and women to take an active role in their communities. “Do not wait,” she advises. “There is something everyone can do in this country to make a difference that may change someone’s life.”