Texans assistant Frank Ross honored with Houston Sports Awards' Community Impact award for his work assisting homeless

HOUSTON – With hair clippers, a comb and kindness, Texans special teams coordinator Frank Ross sought to make a difference in people dealing with the everyday struggles of homelessness.

Ross and his family organized an event to lift their spirits with free haircuts, shaves, teeth cleaning, showers, clean clothes, gift cards and, most of all, encouragement and acceptance at his annual ‘Coaches’ Cuts’ event.

Ross was recognized for his involvement in the Houston community Wednesday as he received the Houston Sports Awards’ Community Impact award.

‘Good for the soul,’ Texans’ Frank Ross holds third annual ‘Coaches’ Cuts’ program, benefiting Reach the Homeless

Ross is passionate about helping those that are less fortunate.

He hosted a special event for homeless individuals from Reach the Homeless last year.

The day included much more than a fresh haircut and a shave.

There were showers from Moving Waters Houston, a mobile shower unit. There were free meals from Olive Garden on Kirby, plus gift cards. Clean clothes. Teeth cleaning and whitening from Hiner Family Dentistry.

Plus, there were haircuts from several barbers and Ross, who taught himself how to cut hair during his college days as a student-athlete playing football at John Carroll University, and encouraging conversations.

Ross was visibly emotional while discussing the impact of these interactions.

“Good for the soul,” he said.

Ross emphasized his desire to help others, to give back, to leave these men, ideally, with everlasting hope.

“This isn’t football, it’s our community,” said Ross, who was joined by linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, who experienced homelessness growing up in Florida. “It’s our town. I’m thankful to be here.”

Coordinating with his wife, several Texans staff, including Morgan Kleinschmidt and Omar Majzoub, and Misty Richardson from Reach the Homeless, which does community outreach serving between 300 and 800 homeless people in a day, and Empire Barber Studio owner Julian Diaz,

Reach the Homeless’ outreach includes a routine of daily encouragement notes, making food and hygiene bags, distributing them and passing out information as well as taking individuals to shelters if there’s space available.

“It’s about helping people in our town,” Ross said. “We’re so lucky. I’m in fantasy land over at NRG. We get to play a game for fun and get paid for it. Not everybody has that.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.