Entering the ninth grade can be an intimidating experience for some students, as they move from a familiar middle school environment onto a new campus.

To support Houston’s young people as they made the transition, retired NFL player Moran Norris gave away backpacks and other school supplies to students at his alma mater, Madison High School, during freshman orientation on Aug. 18.

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Each year, Norris’s foundation sponsors a number of activities designed to help youth meet higher standards in education and character. Norris is a former Houston Texans player who attended Montgomery Elementary, Dowling Middle, and Madison High schools. His wife, Tamara, attended Mading Elementary, Hartman Middle, and Jones High schools.