- Leigh Anne Tuohy is the adoptive mother of former NFL star Michael Oher who used to play for the Baltimore Ravens
- She adopted the football star at the age of 16 in 2004 while he roamed the streets homeless and made him part of her family
- Michael Oher’s mother inspired the production of a multi-million dollar movie titled Blind Side: Evolution of a Game
Leigh Anne Tuohy Is Michael Oher’s Mother. Her maternal relationship with the American football star came about after she adopted him as a homeless 16 years old teenager who was roaming the streets of Memphis back in 2004. This gesture has since transformed a once upon a time traumatized kid into a top award-winning NFL star.
The interesting life-transforming encounter between Leigh and Michael continues to inspire a lot of people including Michael Lewis who produced Blind Side: Evolution of a game, a multi-million dollar movie production that tells the true-life story of Michael and Leigh Ann.
Leigh who is an ardent Christian, mother of three, and a businesswoman continues to use her television talks, oratory skills, and writings to preach love and cheerful giving.
Life background of Leigh Anne Tuohy
Leigh Anne Tuohy was born on the 9th of August 1960 in Memphis, USA. Though she is popularly known as Michael Oher’s mother, she is actually also a very successful ambitious woman who specializes as an interior designer and was named as one out of the three design team members for ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
She is a graduate of the University of Mississippi where she bagged a bachelor of science in interior design. Michael Oher’s mother was as well a cheerleader in the team she met with her husband Sean with whom she tied the knot in 1982. They both share 3 kids including 38 years old Michael, a former American football offensive tackle who played in the NFL for eight seasons primarily with the Baltimore Ravens.
She believes in cheerful giving and was able to capture her thoughts and philanthropic gestures in ‘Heartbeat’ a book she co-authored with her husband Sean Leigh.
Michael Oher was homeless until Leigh adopted him in 2004.
“Turn Around!” This was all she heard while having an evening ride with her family in Memphis. Leigh believes what she heard was the voice of the Holy Spirit and her obedience to that voice gave a young homeless African American teenager another chance at life.
According to her, she cited him walking in the freezing rain without a sweater and immediately took him home and encouraged him through school and his career path.
Leigh and her entire family took a special interest in Michael and made their house a permanent home for him. They also hired a tutor for the football star who spent 20 hours with him every week to help him pick up academically. Even though meeting with Anne became something that will eventually change Oher’s life forever, his adoptive mother believes he is the one that has changed her life significantly.
Interesting facts about Leigh Anne Tuohy
1. She adopted Michael after he had been to several foster homes
Prior to Anne adopting Michael, he had lived in several foster homes right from age 7 following his mother’s addiction to drugs and his father’s frequent jail presence.
Michael had been one of 12 children born to his parents Denise Oher and Michael Jerome. He received little or no attention and discipline in his childhood until he met Leigh Anne and her husband Sean Tuohy in 2004.
2. Her son Michael has won several honors
After playing about 110 games in the National Football League for eight seasons, majorly with the Baltimore Ravens, Oher was able to earn numerous honors and awards owing to his impressive play as an offensive tackle. Some of his awards include
- Super Bowl champion (XLVII)
- PFWA All-Rookie Tem (2009)
- Jacobs Blocking Trophy (2008)
- Unanimous All-American (2008)
- 2x First-team All-SEC (2007, 2008)
- Second-team All-SEC (2006)
3. All Leigh Anne Tuohy’s kids are also into sports
Apart from Michael who is a professional footballer, her two other children are also sports lovers. Her daughter Collins Tuohy used to be a state champion pole vaulter and a cheerleader at the University of Mississippi while her son Sean Jr used to play basketball for the Loyola Greyhounds representing the university of Maryland.
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4. She authored a book titled Heartbeat
Much of Leigh Anne Tuohy’s and Michael Oher’s story is captured in Heartbeat a book she co-authored with her husband. According to the couple, if there is one meaning they want people to take from their story is that the person you just walked past is the one who could change your life. So every once in a while, people should stop and turn around.
They believe beyond giving money and writing paycheques for those in need, it is important to devote your life and time to people, the exact thing they did in the life of the NFL star.
The book further influenced the production of the movie The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game. The $29 million worth of the movie earned the producers a whopping sum of $309.2 million upon its release.
Though the movie was greatly praised and received, Michael was not particularly happy with how he was represented. According to him, There were many things about his true life story that were either left out or misrepresented deliberately for the purpose of entertainment.
Still, on authorship, Leigh Anne Tuohy happens to be contributing writer to the AARP weekly blog and more.com. She authors another book titled Turn Around. The book is a five-day per week devotional that uses scriptures as a springboard to reconsider sacrificial giving.
5. Sandra Bullock won an Oscar for her portrayal of Leigh Anne Tuohy
Released in 2009, the American biographical drama sports film The blindside enabled Bullock who impressively played Leigh to clinch the Oscars award in 2010. The movie also opened in 3,110 theatres on its opening weekend. It was produced by Broderick Johnson and directed by John Lee Hanock.
6. She is a recipient of an honorary degree from Christian Brothers University
Sequel to her commitment to assisting the less privileged and community services, Tuohy was awarded an honorary degree by Christian Borders University.
She believes in 2nd Corinthians 9:7 where the bible said God loves a cheerful giver. The Tuohy does not only give people her time and resources but also encourages others to always do the same.
Anne and her family have also been actively involved with many civic and inter-faith-based organizations. They are founding members of Grace Evangelical Church and they have a foundation called The Making it Happen Foundation. Through this platform, they promote awareness, hope, and work to improve the standard of living for children.
7. Leigh Anne and her husband own more than 85 fast food Franchises
The American-born philanthropist alongside her husband Sean owns over 85 food franchises the world over. This includes those of top-notch and famous restaurants like Taco Bell, Long John Silver’s, and Kentucky Fried Chicken which is the second-largest restaurant chain after McDonald’s with 22,621 locations globally in over 150 countries.
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