Resources
Vetted specialists, treatment programs, legal counsel and recovery services — the right door, opened fast, so nobody burns precious weeks searching alone.
Mentorship
Former teammates and Buckeye alumni who have walked the same road — accountability, someone in your corner, and a locker room that never closes.
Financial assistance
Former athlete financial assistance for support, rehabilitation and recovery — because these scenarios require large amounts of money and time, and hope alone pays for neither.
The six critical needs
WHAT WE FUND01Medical
Surgeries, chronic conditions from playing years, long-term care and the bills insurance leaves behind.
02Mental health & recovery
Counseling, treatment, crisis support and the long unglamorous work of recovery — for the battles nobody sees from the stands.
03Legal
Counsel and representation when a legal fight threatens a family's stability.
04Natural disaster
Emergency relief and rebuilding help when fire, flood or storm takes everything at once.
05Crime victims
Advocacy and assistance for athletes and families victimized by crime.
06Education
Finishing degrees, retraining and certifications — momentum for the second career.
How a case moves
CONFIDENTIAL, ALWAYSYou, a teammate, or family — one call or message starts it. No forms first, no gatekeeping.
A confidential conversation to understand the circumstance, the timeline and the real need.
Resources, mentors and funding matched to the need — assembled as one play, not a stack of referrals.
We stay through rehabilitation and recovery — the brotherhood doesn't clock out.
THE SHORT VERSION
Athlete transition support, built for one team.
Most charities for former athletes serve a broad, national pool. BTGL is narrower and built for one team: a 501(c)(3) sports nonprofit — a buckeye charity offering athlete mental health support and other critical-need resources, plus financial assistance, exclusively to former Ohio State athletes. That focus means a mentor who already knows the road, and a faster answer when someone reaches out. See who we serve and why the mission exists, or if you need help for former athletes outside the Ohio State family, reach out and we'll point you toward reputable resources we know.
Choosing a starting point
PROGRAMS FOR FORMER ATHLETESHow is financial assistance considered?
Former athlete financial assistance is one of BTGL's three program pillars, alongside resources and mentorship. The site describes it in the context of critical needs, not as an automatic payment for every inquiry. Circumstances differ from person to person; the contact page is the place to begin a private conversation about a specific need. Read who the mission serves before making a request.
Where do mental health needs fit?
Mental health and recovery are listed among the six critical needs on this page. BTGL describes resources and referrals, mentorship and financial assistance as its forms of support for former Ohio State athletes. That description does not promise treatment, an award or a recovery outcome. For an individual situation, start with a confidential inquiry instead of sharing sensitive details in a public event or community post.
QUICK ANSWER
What does BTGL fund?
BTGL funds resources, mentorship and financial assistance for former Ohio State athletes in critical need, including legal, natural disaster, crime victimization and education needs.