TAMPA, FL -- Mike Evans can’t do golf. But he can do football.

And he’s equally good at giving back.

“It means the world to me. I mean, it just, it gives me a certain, a satisfaction that I can’t really explain ,” Evans said. “You know, having all the money, being able to live out my dream is great and all, but it wouldn’t mean nothing if I wasn’t able to help other people.”

Evans annual charity golf tournament did a lot of good in the community. And it brought attention to a hot topic - domestic violence -  a cause the Pro Bowl wide receiver takes very seriously. Because he lived it.
“My story’s documented,” he said.

Evans story begins in  1993 in Galveston, Texas where he is born to his 14-year-old mother. Before he became a star at Texas A&M and before he set a Tampa Bay rookie record with 12-receiving touchdowns, Evans developed a love of the game and a skill set that set him apart. But his story is one filled with unspeakable violence.

When he was nine, Evans’ father was brutally stabbed and shot to death by his uncle while he slept in a nearby bedroom. His Uncle Sam had grown tired of Mickey Evans beating his sister, Evans’ mom.

“I’ve grown up experiencing my family going through domestic violence,” Evans said.

That experience set Evans on a path to better his life and others. Together with his wife Ashli, the Mike Evans Family Foundation was launched with a special emphasis on children.

 “We’ve both been through a lot of things,” Ashli Evans said. “We fortunately had the right support in our lives to get where we are and so we just want to be that for other people and other kids, especially.”

 “Domestic violence is very important to me,” Evans said. “You know, I don’t think it’s cool for that to be in a household. It’s not good for the children. I just think we should all love on one another while we’re on this Earth.”

Evans isn’t afraid to talk about the tough subjects. And he’s not afraid to show his emotions. Those emotions were on display when the Bucs made him the seventh overall pick of the 2014 NFL Draft. He hugged his daughter and he cried.

Evans dream of a better childhood for his children became a reality. He wants a better childhood for every kid affected by domestic violence.

“We know what the kids are going through,” Evans said. “We just try to aid as much as we can.”

“There’s a lot of things that need to be talked about, especially domestic violence,” Ashli Evans said. “I think we need to help these kids have a better future and anything’s possible with the right help.”

As a new season is about to kick off, Evans wants Bucs fans to know he’s going to do a lot of talking with his play on the field.  Off the field, he has a message for any child who is living with domestic violence issues…he feels your pain.

“Enjoy being a kid. Don’t worry. You don’t have control over everything,” Evans said. “Just try to control what you can control and have fun and just work hard as possible toward your dreams. You know, anything can happen.”