Baltimore Ravens player DeAngelo Tyson, a former Statesboro High School standout, has announced the formation of the Tyson Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that will benefit the city that gave him hope and opportunity.

Abandoned by his birth parents, Tyson spent the majority of his young life at Joseph's Home for Boys, a now-closed long-term group home in Statesboro that provided a stable living environment for troubled or deserted kids.

After graduating from Statesboro High, Tyson became the first teen from the home to move into the college setting, his football talent earning him a scholarship to the University of Georgia. Selected in the seventh round of the 2012 draft by the Baltimore Ravens, Tyson is currently playing in his third season in the NFL.

He was a member of the 2005 AAAA state champion Blue Devils and a 2007 USA Today high school All-USA player. And the Ravens won Super Bowl XLVII in his rookie season.

The Tyson Foundation's stated mission is: "To serve youth, young athletes and teenage mothers through support and opportunities that will empower them to unlock their own personal potential. The Foundation is dedicated to building young adults and families through new hope."

Tyson first came into group-home care while in fourth grade at Mattie Lively Elementary School, when a counselor noticed a chipped tooth. Though Tyson did not want to say his biological mother caused the injury, he was removed from the home.

In just a few short months, Tyson went from group care back to his biological mom to time with a great-aunt, then back to his biological mom.

"It wasn't working out at home," said Tyson. "My biological mom said I was a troubled child. Stacey Callaway, with the Department of Juvenile Justice, got involved because my biological mom said I was a disruptive child. She called and said I had stolen from her."

Tyson explained that he was scared to ask for seconds at home.

"That's why I took the icing," he said. "I was hungry. I would get beat at home."

So, at 9 years old, Tyson became a resident at Joseph's Home for Boys.

"I felt comfortable there because I knew the environment I was in at home," he said. "I was safe, but I felt alone. As much as my biological mom did to me, I still wanted to be back with her."

For about a year, Tyson's mom visited regularly. Then the visits stopped, with no explanation.

"She'd call and say she'd be coming but never show up," he said.

Still desiring a home with family, Tyson left the home one other time, in sixth grade, to live with a great-aunt in Savannah. But that, too, failed in less than a year, and he was back in Statesboro at Joseph's.

"That's how I met the lady I call my 'mom,'" Tyson said. "Kim Lamb, my science teacher at William James."

Tyson formed a relationship with Lamb and her husband, Chris. Even though the Lambs moved to Camden County when Tyson was in ninth grade, he would continue to spend holidays and breaks with them.

"I have a lot of people that have been mothers to me," Tyson said. "Stacey, Kim, Suzy Wagner, who is another lady at the group home that was always by my side."

Tyson, who had been an avid basketball player, never played football until eighth grade, when he decided to play just because his friends were playing.

"When I went out, some of the coaches didn't think I would be any good because I was in the band," Tyson said with a smile. "I dominated and I didn't know how I did that. I shocked myself more than my coaches. I turned out to be a good player.

"My football talents are God-given," he added. "I was a basketball player. I loved basketball."

In fact, Tyson said he didn't plan to play high school football until SHS football coach Steve Pennington showed up at the group home to convince him to play.

"Coach P gave me an opportunity to get recruited," Tyson said. "My 11th-grade year, coaches were watching some 12th-grade players and took notice of me."

Tyson committed to UGA at the end of his junior-year football season. Two of his senior friends, Justin Houston and John Knox, had signed on to play at UGA, and he wanted to be with friends.

Drafted by the Ravens during his senior year at UGA, Tyson accompanied the team to the Super Bowl his first year on the team.

Dedicated to helping young athletes in similar situations that he found himself in, Tyson also wants to help teenage mothers through his foundation.

Tyson married his high-school sweetheart, Shabrae, in March 2013. Together, they have three children, Brayden, 6, Paleigh, 3, and Jordan, 5 months. Tyson also has another son, Chandler, 5.

"My wife was a teenage mom," said Tyson. "It was hard for her. It's harder when you don't have any family support."

Shabrae encouraged and supported her husband's desire to start a foundation and give back to the community that helped both of them.

"I wasn't an at-risk kid; I just didn't have a family," he said. "Statesboro was my family."

Now, Tyson plans to help his Statesboro family through the Tyson Foundation. A kickoff dinner/silent auction and golf tournament fundraiser is planned for March 2015.