Nick Barr-Mira
You likely know Nick Barr-Mira as the Mississippi State football player who booms punts for the Bulldogs on Saturdays. What you might not know is that while Barr-Mira kicks footballs at MSU, his mother and brother are helping kickstart the lives of single parents and their children.
Barr-Mira鈥檚 mom, Lori Barr, and brother, Anthony Barr, are co-founders of Raise The Barr, a nonprofit dedicated to providing aid to single-parent college students and their kids in Minnesota鈥攚here Anthony spent eight years starring as a linebacker for the NFL鈥檚 Minnesota Vikings鈥攁nd in the family鈥檚 home area in Southern California.
鈥淚t鈥檚 something they鈥檙e very passionate about and also I鈥檓 very passionate about,鈥 Barr-Mira said. 鈥淭hey inspire me every day with their desire to help and serve others. It spreads to me and [motivates] me to help with my community and it鈥檚 something I鈥檓 proud to be a part of.鈥
Lori raised Anthony as a single parent and was able to balance motherhood with two part-time jobs on the way to earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree and master鈥檚 degree at Loyola Marymount University. Inspired by their own story, Lori and Anthony started Raise The Barr to help others who find themselves in similar situations, providing participants with programming that includes financial assistance, community building and professional and personal development, with a goal of well-being for the entire family.
Down in Mississippi, Barr-Mira is showing how the apple didn鈥檛 fall too far at all from the family tree. Since coming to Starkville before the start of last season, he has participated in numerous community service events including Read Across America, Ryan鈥檚 Giving Tree and the Emily Chancellor Polar Bear Plunge. He鈥檚 also served at elementary schools, including one in Starkville.
As a result, Barr-Mira is on the 2024 Allstate Wuerffel Trophy watchlist. The Wuerffel Trophy is considered college football鈥檚 premier award for community service.
Barr-Mira also has been nominated for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. To be considered for a spot, a nominee for the honor must be actively involved with a charitable organization or service group while maintaining strong academic standing.
Barr-Mira also pitches in with Raise The Barr when he can. Just this past spring, he interned with the organization and was part of an event planning committee.
It鈥檚 safe to say Barr-Mira is so much more than just one of the Southeastern Conference鈥檚 best punters. He鈥檚 following in the footsteps of his mother and brother to help make the world a better place.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an incredible, incredible feeling whenever you help someone,鈥 Barr-Mira said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 incredibly fulfilling, and we鈥檙e so blessed to be able to help and bless other people the way that we do.鈥
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