Steve Young is more than just a superb athlete (aside being a hunk of a man-personal opinion, I know, but I am sure it is shared, LOL). He is an excellent role model for kids, because he truly cares about them. 

In 1998 he was named the Walter Camp Football Foundation's 1998 "Distinguished American of the Year." Among other things, the article says that Steve is "an individual who has successfully paralleled his outstanding professional football career with an extraordinary effort to help create better lives for oung people in need of help".

In 1999 the Sporting News called him one of the "NFL Good Guys!" Read about ithere-->SteveYoung and the NFL Good Guys. 

But the reason for this page is to highlight is extraordinary support of the EBMRF (Epidermolysis Bullosa Medical Research Foundation) to find a cure for Epidermolysis Bullosa. Aside Princess Diana, who helped our cause by supporting DEBRA UK, heis the only celebrity spokesperson who does not have a direct reason, meaning a family member or friend with this devastating condition ofthe skin.  

Steve first learned of EB when he agreed to narrate a musical fund raiser for the EBMRF in Utah.  He was so touched by the EB children, tha the has stayed. 
He has narrated a second fund raiser in San Francisco, linked them with the 49er Pledge Program which brings donations to the EBMRF each year, and narrated their video.

Picture: Steve Young with with 2 EB patients

  He also serves on the EBMRF Honorary Advisory Board (which also includes Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz). 
He has given donations to be used for EB kids to have fun and sponsored parties in Southern California, Northern California and Oregon for EB support groups.  He continues to donate his own money for EB research each year. 

Needless to say, we are very grateful to Steve Young for his great support. His "Forever Young Foundation", lists EB as one of his favorite charities. You can click here to see the video Steve narrated to promote fund raising and awareness for the EBMRF-you will need RealPlayer to view it, you can download it here for free. The transcript of this video is also available on this website, just follow this link. 

EB is not the only organization Steve supports, as a matter of fact, his contributions have been vast. 

 Picture: Steve Young chats with EB patients, Kelly Drewrey of Los Gatos, CA, and Henry Riojas of Fremont, CA.

He founded and chairs the Forever Young Foundation (FYF) which is actively involved in children's charities in the San Francisco Bay Area and in Utah. Recently, FYF has focused on a project in two Children's Hospitals. Both The Lucile Packard Children's Hospitalat Stanford University (which just happens to be where the only west coast EB clinic in the country is located) and Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City are the recipients of new, state of the art, interactive recreational-therapy rooms called Forever Young Zones. These rooms are created with the intent to provide tools for exercising the imagination of children who find themselves away from home, facing the emotional and physical challenges that serious illness brings.

Additionally, he founded the Sport, Education and Values Foundation which is an official licensee of the United State's Olympic Committee dedicated to developing educational and value-based programs for America's youth. 
He is currently the broadcast host as well the former International Spokesperson for the Children's Miracle Network which has raised over one billion dollars world-wide to benefit children's hospitals.
He is a board member of the American Indian Services. 
He was active in Salt Lake City's successful bid for the 2002 Winter Olympics and continues to participate with the plans for the event. 
Young frequently donates his time to youth groups across the country as a motivational speaker. 



Steve's Biography and Career Highlights

JON STEVEN YOUNG was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on October 11, 1961. 
Steve was the firstborn of Sherry and Le Grand (Grit) Young, and was followed by Mike, Melissa, Tom, and Jim. The family moved to Greenwich, Connecticut when Steve was 8 years old. 
Steve showed at an early age that he was unusually gifted both athletically and mentally. In his senior year at Greenwich High School, he was captain of the football, basketball and baseball teams, while earning a 4.0 grade point average, including A's in advanced-placement calculus, and was a National Merit Scholar. In addition, during Steve's three years of high school, he arose at 5:00 a.m. each morning to attend an LDS Church religious class before school. 
Although Steve was an option quarterback at Greenwich High, he accepted an athletic scholarship to Brigham Young University, (founded by his great, great, great, great grandfather) a school known for its sophisticated West Coast Offense-style passing game. Though he started as the 8th string quarterback, he eventually won the starting job after the departure of former NFL quarterback Jim MacMahon. Steve went on to set NCAA passing records, was a consensus All American, an Academic All American, and was runner-up in the Heisman voting in 1983,his senior year. He was projected to be the number one pick in the 1984NFL draft. Steve opted, instead, to go with the new USFL (United States Football League) and signed to play with the L.A. Express. L.A. was closer to home (Provo, Utah), and he thought he would have the opportunity to start at the quarterback position right away-something that probably wouldn't happen in the NFL. In 1985, after the USFL folded, Steve signed on with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the team that held his NFL draft rights. He played for the Buccaneers for two seasons, starting 19 games, andin 1987 was acquired by the San Francisco 49ers. Steve sat behind then49er quarterback, Joe Montana, for four years. In the 1991 season after Montana was forced out by injuries, Steve lead the NFL in passing efficiency with a 101.8 quarterback rating his first year as the starter. He has garnered this honor in 6 times, and holds the all time highest NFL quarterback rating of 112.8 for the 1994 "Superbowl" season. 
Although it was difficult sitting on the bench, Steve is the first to admit that his years of backing up Joe Montana were an excellent tutorage for becoming a Pro Bowl quarterback. During that time, in addition to learning the intricacies of quarterbacking from a master, he was also learning the intricacies of the law at Brigham Young University's School of Law, receiving his law degree in 1994. 
Steve has led the San Francisco 49ers to winning seasons in each of the 7 seasons he's been the starting quarterback, having won at least 10 games or more each season. Although slowed by injuries during the 1996 season, which caused him to miss all or part of 8 games, Steve still won the NFL passing title with a quarterback rating of 97.2.In 1997, he won the passing title again with a 104.2 rating. 1998 was a big season for Steve where he was said to be playing at the top of his game, and at 37 years old. He set a new record for consecutive games of over 300 passing yards at six games, and a total of over 4,000 yards for the season. He broke his previous 49er record, throwing 36 touchdowns. In 1993, Steve organized the Forever Young Foundation, a charitable foundation that has raised large sums of money to aid youth organizations and other charities in the San Francisco area, and in Utah and Arizona. He plays a direct role in the foundation's administrative, fundraising, and community activities.

HONORS AND AWARDS: Steve has been selected to the pro bowl 7 consecutive times since becoming a starter and holds the pro bowl record for number of TD's thrown (4).He has won two NFL Most Valuable Player Awards in 1992 and 1994. In1992 he was named "Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame Professional Athlete-of-the-Year. He was named Sports Illustrated Player of the Year in 1992 and 1994;Sporting News Player of the Year in 1992 and 1994; and NFL Player of the year in 1992 and 1994. He has twice been awarded the Len Eshmont Award by his teammates, an award given to the 49er who was the most inspirational player during the season (1992, 1994). In 1994, he lead his team to the championship in the Super bowl, throwing a record 6touchdown passes. 

HOLLYWOOD STEVE: Steve has appeared on "Late Night With David Letterman" several times, and on the "Tonight Show" with Jay Leno. He was also a contestant on "Wheel of Fortune", and has appeared in the television shows "Beverly Hills 90210", "Wings" and "Lois and Clark". In 1998 Steve had a role on "Dharma and Gregg" and played himself. Steve is single, and splits his time in the off season between homes in Provo, Utah, Park City, Utah, and Palo Alto, California. 



My child has a skin problem called Epidermolysis Bullosa. 
This is a long fancy name for a condition of the skin where a certain protein is missing from the top layer of the skin called the epidermis. Because the skin is missing this protein, blisters develop easily. This can occur after a slight bump of the skin, or can occur on the bottom of the feet from walking too much. Many of these blisters are painful, but most people with EB get used to them over time. My child will often wear bandages to protect the skin and allow healing underneath.
This condition is not contagious. You cannot catch anything. Unfortunately, there is no cure for EB right now,
but many doctors are working to find help for EB. If you wish to donate money or to find out more about EB, we would appreciate your contacting the following national organizations which are looking for a cure.
Thank You for your concern.  

DebRA of America, Inc. 5 West 36th Street Suite 404 New York, NY 10018 Tel: (212) 868-1573 or (866) DEBRA76

EBMRF 11812 San Vicente Blvd. Suite 125 Los Angeles, Calif. 90049 310-979-8078




I don't know of any disease that children face that causes such long term suffering. You know, you have children that have things that take their lives, but, this disease, they suffer emotionally and physically for a long
long time before they either die or...well, and actually in the severe forms that's what happens. 
Lynn Anderson (President of EBMRF)

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Last Updated:Saturday, March 18, 2006