10 Qs with Aaron Rodgers on why he gives back

When he's not throwing touchdown passes and leading the Green Bay Packers to victory on the football field, Aaron Rodgers can often be found playing games and chatting with kids who have cancer. Since May 2010, Rodgers has helped raise more than $2 million for the Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer Fund, according to the organization's director John Cary.

We caught up with Rodgers after practice Oct. 15 to talk about his work with the MACC Fund and other organizations.

1. Why are you involved with the MACC Fund?

It's multi-layered for me. I was able to get to know a young kid with leukemia when I was in junior college and he had a big impact on me. Learning about the stuff he had to go through: weekly checkups and getting his blood drawn, chemotherapy, how it affects families. That had a big impact on me to where I felt if I had the opportunity to use my platform to make a difference for kids, that's something I really wanted to do.

(The MACC Fund) is something that's right here in our backyard. Wanting to be a lifelong Packer and have an impact in my community, I felt like working with the MACC Fund and raising awareness for childhood cancer and other blood disorders was something that could really make a huge impact.

2. Are there any memories that stick out from the time you've spent with kids battling cancer? It's a lot of memories grouped together. Being able to spend time with a number of kids over the years...playing catch with Dijon in his backyard was awesome; hanging out with Brandon and hearing about his story and how he's overcome so much; hanging out with Maggie , jumping on her trampoline was special; playing soccer and talking about life. These kids are incredible, and the families as well. There's so many people affected by this disease directly or indirectly; they're going through a lot and it's fun to bring them a little hope.

3. How were you impacted by Jack Bartosz, a child you were close with who died after a battle with cancer?

Getting to know Jack was a big part of me wanting to do even more with the MACC Fund because he was such a special kid, had a great outlook on life and was so happy all the time, even through his struggles in life and in death. Very inspirational to me, getting to know his mother and his sister Annie, who's doing incredible things with Gold in September .

4. How has your involvement with the MACC Fund changed how you look at your own life?

I try to remember the things that I see I their eyes, and their hearts. It gives you great perspective. It reminds you to really enjoy life because these kids have been through so much and they have such joy for the opportunity to live, and to dream, and to have goals. That's been one of the roots of my involvement, is trying to let these kids have an opportunity to live a normal life as a 10-, 12-, 14-year-old kid, and have dreams like I did when I was young.

5. Does it give you a different perspective on your football career and the platform that gives you?

As you get older in the league, you start to think about how people are going to remember you and that's kind of the L word — the legacy part of it. You'd like to be remembered as someone who made an impact on the community, and not just for what you've done on the field.

6. Are you involved with other organizations?

I'm involved in more anonymous capacities with a number of organizations. I've always wanted my involvement to not overshadow the cause so I try and look for opportunities to make an impact without needing to draw attention to yourself. If I'm spending time with organizations or people, it's not documented; I'm not putting it on Instagram or Twitter. It's doing it because you want to make an impact, not because you want to get recognition for it.

7. Will you stay involved with the MACC Fund after you retire from football?

That's definitely one thing that will take up a lot of my time, is continuing to work with them. It will always be part of my life.

8. Have you thought about starting your own non-profit?

I've thought about it. At this point, it's more enjoyable to work with an organization like the MACC Fund.

9. What would you like to inspire others to do?

You don't have to be quarterback of the Green Bay Packers to get involved. There's opportunities all over the place, whether it's helping out with Paul's Pantry, or a food drive, or a Boys and Girls Club, or Big Brothers Big Sisters. We need volunteers, and positive role models who can inspire kids to get out there and live a healthier life and dream big.

10. Who inspires you?

My teammates. I'm inspired every day by those guys and what they're doing in the community.