BREAKING: CeeDee Lamb Donates Entire $18.9 Million Bonus and Sponsorship Earnings to Homeless Shelter In Opelousas, Louisiana, United States to Help Fund 150 Units Housing with 300 Shelter Beds... “I’ve seen the effects of homelessness firsthand growing up, and I knew if I ever had the means, I’d give back in a meaningful way,” He Said in a press conference. “No one deserves to sleep on a sidewalk...

In a powerful and deeply personal act of generosity, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb has donated his entire $18.9 million signing bonus and recent sponsorship earnings to fund a major homelessness initiative in Opelousas, Louisiana, his mother’s hometown. The funds will be used to build 150 permanent housing units and 300 emergency shelter beds, creating one of the largest privately-funded housing projects in the region.

Lamb made the announcement during a press conference Friday morning, visibly emotional as he reflected on his upbringing and the struggles he witnessed growing up.

“I’ve seen the effects of homelessness firsthand growing up,” Lamb said. “And I knew if I ever had the means, I’d give back in a meaningful way. No one deserves to sleep on a sidewalk — not in Opelousas, not anywhere.”

The donation comes at a time when homelessness across Louisiana, especially in small towns and rural areas, is on the rise. Opelousas, a community of just under 17,000 people, has seen limited resources for the unhoused population. Until now, the city had only one small shelter with fewer than 20 beds, often overflowing during the winter months.

The new initiative, titled “Lamb’s Light Housing Project,” is set to break ground in August and aims to be fully operational by summer 2026. The project will include a transitional housing complex, a mental health and job training center, and 24/7 emergency shelter facilities.

Local officials hailed Lamb’s gesture as “transformative.”

“This isn’t just a donation — it’s a turning point for our city,” said Opelousas Mayor Julius Alsandor. “CeeDee Lamb didn’t just write a check. He sat down with city leaders, he met with people on the ground, and he asked, ‘What do you need? How can I help?’ That speaks volumes.”

Lamb’s donation includes both his NFL signing bonus from a recently restructured contract and sponsorship deals from major brands, which he has reportedly asked to be redirected to the project. Sources close to the athlete say he plans to remain actively involved in the shelter’s development, including funding annual operational costs for at least the first five years.

The project is being managed in partnership with Louisiana Housing Corporation and Habitat for Humanity, who will oversee the construction and day-to-day operations once completed.

In addition to shelter and housing, the site will include:

Job training programs
On-site mental health services
Childcare for residents seeking employment
Mobile health and dental clinics
Community gardens and recreational spaces

Lamb says his motivation stems from his own experience with housing insecurity. While he has rarely spoken publicly about it, sources close to his family confirm that he lived in temporary accommodations during parts of his childhood and often stayed with extended family to avoid sleeping on the streets.

“This isn’t charity,” Lamb said during the press conference. “It’s justice. It’s giving people a foundation so they can rise. I had people who believed in me when I was down. This is just my way of doing the same.”

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and the Dallas Cowboys organization have both praised Lamb’s generosity.

“CeeDee Lamb exemplifies the best of what it means to be a professional athlete,” said Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. “He’s not only a star on the field, but a leader off it.”

Construction will begin in the North Opelousas area, on land that Lamb also helped secure through private negotiation and donation. Once completed, the Lamb’s Light Housing Project is expected to serve more than 1,200 individuals per year, making it one of the largest impact initiatives by an individual NFL player in recent history.

As Lamb left the press conference, he was met with a standing ovation from local residents, many of whom lined the street just to catch a glimpse of the hometown hero giving back.