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A smiling David Tepper jogged down a small makeshift runway at a crowded gymnasium Nate Hairston Jersey , crouching as he went to slap hands with wildly cheering elementary school children clad in blue Carolina Panthers T-shirts while music blared.

After finishing his short jog, the Panthers owner smiled back at the crowd and seemed to soak in the moment.

Tepper made his first charitable donation to the Carolinas on Tuesday through his foundation, giving away 12,000 new backpacks and school supplies to 17 elementary schools across the Charlotte, North Carolina, area including those students at Thomasboro Academy.

"It's been great," said a smiling Tepper of his first seven weeks as owner.

The self-made multi-billionaire hedge fund owner is 60, but still remembers his days growing up in Pittsburgh in a lower-income household. His mother worked as a teacher at an inner city school, and he got to see firsthand how difficult it was for her to provide school supplies for her students.

He also remembers walking to school with a brown bag because he didn't have a backpack. In high school he would sometimes hitch rides to school.

When he purchased the Panthers for an NFL-record $2.2 billion from Jerry Richardson in July, Tepper said he immediately thought of supporting schoolchildren, calling them "our future."

"I thought it was a great way to start off," said Tepper, who is known for his philanthropy in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

"Every kid needs supplies and there is a shortage of supplies. Teachers don't have enough money for supplies 鈥?and you know the situation in North Carolina and in the Carolinas in general with schools. So whatever we can do to help that out, it's great."

Said Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis: "He comes in here with that same mindset we have (as players) with giving back to the community."

Tepper is quickly becoming a popular figure in the Charlotte area.

Unlike Richardson, who is more stoic and formal and kept out of the spotlight http://www.chicagobearsteamonline.com/anthony-miller-jersey , Tepper exudes the feel of an ordinary guy, often dressing in khaki shorts, a golf shirt and a baseball hat.

Prior to the Panthers' first preseason game, he tailgated with fans and knocked back a few beers.

"He's easy to talk to, he's approachable and he likes being around the guys," Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly said.

When he bought the Panthers, Tepper vowed to change the culture and make it more of a family atmosphere where people are comfortable in the workplace regardless of race, gender or religion.

That came after allegations surfaced of sexual and racial misconduct in the workplace by Richardson while owner of the Panthers. He was later fined $2.7 million by the NFL when reports were substantiated following a six-month investigation. The reports ultimately prompted Richardson, the team's founder, to put the franchise up for sale.

Tepper is already shaking it up, doing things his way.

The Panthers have worn two different uniform combinations in their first two preseason home games and there's talk of possibly incorporating a black helmet into the mix 鈥?a look Richardson would never go for.

Tepper is also expected to put the Panthers logo at midfield for the team's first regular-season home game; Richardson always made sure the NFL shield was at midfield for more than two decades to honor the league.

Tepper wants to build an indoor/outdoor practice football facility in South Carolina, just over the border.

The Panthers have never had an indoor practice facility under Richardson.

Tepper hasn't talked much about plans for a new stadium, but it's something he'll have to consider at some point as Bank of America 鈥?completed in 1995 鈥?is now one of the older stadiums in the league.

Last week, Tepper hired Tom Glick as the team's new president, saying he will bring a "new perspective" to the organization 鈥?with an eye toward bringing a Major League Soccer team to the Carolinas.

Glick has spent the past six years working with developing the City Football Group (CFG) Kyle Williams Jersey , a multi-national soccer organization that includes six clubs including current English Premier League champion Manchester City FC. The Group also owns New York City FC of Major League Soccer.

As chief commercial officer of CFG, Glick has experience working with soccer expansion, as well as building new stadiums and training centers.

When asked if that experience helped Glick land the job, Tepper replied, "it didn't hurt."

Tepper deflected other questions about business, saying he wanted this day to be about the kids.

"The first thing I did when I came down here is I said we have to do something like this in Charlotte," Tepper said. "We are thinking something across the two states in the future. ... It's great stuff."

And, he promised, only the beginning of his charitable ways in the Carolinas.

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix returned to Lambeau Field for Green Bay Packers minicamp after the safety cited personal issues for missing some voluntary offseason workouts.

Clinton-Dix said that the death of his godmother following a heart attack hit him hard. She was a school principal who played a formative role in Clinton-Dix's upbringing.

"I learned everything. I learned the principles of being a young man, not taking anything for granted," he said.

Having the opportunity to spend time with family meant a lot to him.

"But, you know, my family means everything to me," Clinton-Dix said after practice Tuesday. "If I have the opportunity to be home with them, I would love to be home with them."

The safety's absence during some voluntary workouts in May and early June was notable given that the Packers have a new defensive coordinator http://www.greenbaypackersteamonline.com/aaron-jones-jersey , Mike Pettine. A Pro Bowler in 2016, Clinton-Dix is part of the core of a defense hoping to improve following a lackluster 2017 season.

He's also entering the option year of the rookie contract signed after being drafted in the first round in 2014 out of Alabama.

Asked why he missed some of the workouts, Clinton-Dix first said "family issues," then winked .

Asked if his absence wasn't contract related, the fifth-year pro replied "personal issues."

Later, Clinton-Dix said he had no deadline to get a new deal done. He doesn't sound like someone who plans to hold out, either.

"What would it do, though?" Clinton-Dix said. "You're just wasting your time, really. You're getting fined and fined and fined. I'm a guy that, I need my money, man. That's why I'm here now. I need my money."

Clinton-Dix was in Green Bay for three weeks at the start of the offseason program in April. He had his team-issued tablet computer the entire time while he was away to watch practices.

If there were any questions, Clinton-Dix would contact position coach Joe Whitt. A member of the coaching staff would get back to him with an answer, or send another video clip to help.

"Well, you guys can take attendance. It's a mandatory minicamp, so things step up. But I feel really good Cody Whitehair Jersey , Ha Ha all the way through," coach Mike McCarthy said. "We've had change, we've transitioned through that."

McCarthy followed recent tradition and excused 16 veterans with six or more years of experience from this week's minicamp, including quarterback Aaron Rodgers. So practices this week can especially help rookies or younger players lower on the depth chart make impressions on the coaching staff.

Still, any time on the practice field with a player with Pro Bowl potential such as Clinton-Dix can help as the Packers hope to finish the offseason program strong before going on summer break.

"Scheme or not, all you've got to do is (say) 'You've got this, you've got this' and he's going to go out there and play," second-year cornerback Kevin King said. "Playbook-wise, I'm not worried about that. Ha Ha is going to be Ha Ha."

Always confident, Clinton-Dix used word play when asked if minicamp was a time when he could play catch-up. Pettine's scheme appears to play to Clinton-Dix's strength and allow him to spend more time closer to the line of scrimmage, rather than 20 yards out.

"I love ketchup. Love it on my hot dogs, love it on my hamburgers and I love it on my fries," Clinton-Dix said. "Catch-up won't be a problem."

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