Former Pitt defensive lineman up for Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year award

PITTSBURGH — Deslin Alexandre is a menace to opposing offenses. But the defensive lineman has also won multiple awards for his dedication to community service.  His cause that drives him is one incredibly close to his heart – and one he’s raised thousands of dollars for.

Alexandre will be the first to tell you the accolades are not why he does what he does.

Already a winner of the Coach Wooden Citizen Cup, and being named to the Allstate Good Works Team, he’s also one of 3 finalists for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year award. This is all because of his 5th Down Campaign – which helps kids who he personally knows need it most.

“I wanted to do something a little different to use NIL to help kids in Haiti,” said Alexandre.

The defensive lineman knows firsthand how much of a need there is in his hometown of Cap-Haitien, Haiti.

“It is so personal, because that’s where I’m from,” said Alexandre. “These are my people. "

The defensive lineman’s mom moved from Haiti to Florida, and brought him to the U.S. when he was 4 years old. Earlier this year, Alexandre teamed up with the Pittsburgh Kids Foundation to create the 5th down Campaign.

“In life, I felt like you have four downs,” said Alexandre. “Just being able to add an extra down, the next opportunity for the kids in Haiti.”

“He understands that it was a gift for him to come over to Florida and then come up to Pitt,” said Joel Gray, network director of the Pittsburgh Kids Foundation. “He wants to give that same gift to somebody.”

The gifts Alexandre is giving – are life changing.

“It helps kids, you know, with schooling, nutrition, food and water,” said Alexandre. “So that’s things that I was really more passionate about.”

“First of all, send them to school, to get educated, allow them to meet friends, give them clothes, be able to feed them,” said Gray. “But then also be able to send some of that stuff home with them as well. I mean, that’s the impact that these dollars make.”

Close to $55,000 to be exact.

“Deslin’s just one of those guys, I think he lives the motto of hey, I’ve been blessed,” said Pittsburgh Kids Foundation President Brad Henderson. “And out of that blessing. I need to be a blessing to other people.”

“My mom always says this is a blessing to be a blessing,” said Alexandre. “So I wear that on my, on my sleeves really proudly.”

If you’re interested in donating to his cause, click here.

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