Photo Courtesy of the Miami Dolphins

DAVIE — Whether he is standing up an opposing running back with a hard hit or standing up to emcee a community-service event, Dolphins linebacker Akin Ayodele knows what it means to make a statement.

Just this week, he and community relations director Ilona Wolpin were among a group of Dolphins representatives at a Rooms To Go function at the home of a low-income family. They quickly realized that the family had only a small, outdated television to go with their new furniture.

"Akin just jumped in the car and came back and surprised the kids with a TV and a PlayStation2," Wolpin said. "That's just the kind of guy he is."

Ayodele, who is third on the team with 56 tackles, has made the holidays much brighter for an untold number of South Florida children this year with his involvement in a myriad of charitable causes.

"He's the kind of guy the NFL maybe doesn't publicize enough," wide receiver Greg Camarillo said. "You always hear the stories about guys getting arrested, DUIs here and there, but you don't hear the feel-good stories of people who are making a difference in other peoples' lives."

Ayodele, 30, is the oldest of four children (a brother, Remi, plays defensive tackle for the New Orleans Saints). He learned about the power of giving from his mother while growing up poor in Irving, Texas.

"She was working two or three jobs while trying to get her degree," said Ayodele, whose full name is pronounced AY-kin ay-DELL.

"We didn't have much. But through that whole process, no matter how bad we had it, she made sure we knew other people had it worse. And around this time of year she would get some things together to make sure their holidays were a little brighter."

He is building on that tradition, especially in his work with young people.

"I love to give," Ayodele said. "That's my passion. I tell the kids I understand where they come from. It's a different generation, but it's good for them to see there's a guy who grew up with the same kind of background and family situation they have and made it where I am now.

"Probably 95 percent of the guys in that (Dolphins) locker room are the same. They had problems, they went through adversity, but they got through it and are standing tall now. That's the lesson — to be an example and show them they can do it, too."

At Purdue University, Ayodele found time in his busy schedule — besides playing for the Boilermakers he was taking an extra-heavy class load after transferring from Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College — to make regular visits to local elementary schools.

"It was a matter of time management," he said. "I had an older guy show me how to schedule my entire day, and you can't deter from it.

"But I enjoyed it. I really enjoy spending time with kids — just their innocence."

Shortly after he got to the NFL as a third-round pick by Jacksonville in 2002, Ayodele's best friend, Michael Tilmon, died in a car crash. To honor his memory, Ayodele set up the Michael Tilmon Scholarship, which is available to seniors at their alma mater, MacArthur High in Irving.

Ayodele's mother, Jessica, is on the committee that chooses the winners, a few of whom already have gone on to graduate from college.

"We have hundreds of applications every year and have helped some wonderful young men and women," she said.

When Ayodele moved on to Dallas in 2005, he set up his own foundation, Akin's PATH, which stands for Promoting Acceptance, Teamwork and Hope. It was there that he started to help foster children, but it's in the 20 months since he came to the Dolphins that his involvement in the community has truly blossomed.

"I owned a condo in South Beach when I played for the Jaguars, but I didn't really know how people lived down here," he said. "When I got here I started asking around about South Florida and Broward County, and I learned downtown Fort Lauderdale is not too pleasant. The need is there."

Ayodele's biggest impact might be with six students he mentors at Parkway Middle School in Fort Lauderdale. He hired tutors for all six and spends time with them each month.

"The first week they went bowling," said Ryan Altizer, who oversees Ayodele's foundation, "but another week they'd work at a soup kitchen, or maybe just sit and talk about their problems."

Said Ayodele, "Every kid has a different situation, and every time we meet I have a different lesson for them."

He has given each member of the group season tickets to the Dolphins. Earlier this month he gave each $100 to buy Christmas gifts for themselves and their siblings.

Meanwhile, Ayodele has made himself available to the Dolphins' community-service team. Tuesday is the players' lone day off, but he has spent every Tuesday but one this season at a team-sponsored event.

"He's a great leader in terms of getting other players involved," Wolpin said. "He emcees most of the events we have, and he's the first to show up and last to leave. Whatever you need you can always count on Akin."

None of that is a surprise to his mother, who just Wednesday spent part of her day volunteering at a nursing home in Grand Prairie, Texas, where she now resides.

"He was always good," she said. "I always told him: You're the first, and if you do something right the others will follow you. And he did. I'm so proud of him."

A few weeks ago, when he was struggling with a back injury, Ayodele took a short time away from his community work for treatment. That led to a revelation.

"I was like, I'm still blessed, I can still walk, I can still drive, I can still do all these things," he said. "And once I started getting myself back into my program with the kids, it lifted my spirit, and in lifting my spirit my whole mindset was lifted and got me back on my feet."