CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Carolina Panthers cornerback Josh Norman insists his newfound wealth and celebrity status won’t change him like it has other athletes.

That’s because of a life-changing moment Norman had in 2012 after his first celebrity charity basketball game in his hometown of Greenwood, South Carolina.

Let Norman, who on Tuesday was given the franchise tag that guarantees him $13,952,000 in 2016, pick it up from here.

“I had a kid coming up to me when I was at the YMCA playing ball and said, ‘Josh, man, I’m glad I came to your event,’ ’’ Norman said last Friday at his first charity event in Charlotte. “He said, ‘You know why? My friend went out to fight and he got a black eye, but I came to your game. If I didn’t come to your game I would have went with him and who knows what would have happened.’

“Knowing I can do that, man, it’s the greatest feeling in the world. Money, fame, nothing amounts to that feeling that I have.’’

Josh Norman will make $13,952,000 in 2016 after the Panthers placed the franchise tag on him. Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Norman, 28, has been raising money for poverty-stricken children in Greenwood since then. He also has donated $10,000 to six local churches in need and another $10,000 to help with the medical costs of his childhood friend who recently lost a battle with leukemia.

His latest goal is to build a recreation center in his hometown to replace the one at which he used to play basketball and other sports.

“They tore down the rec center when I was growing up there, and that’s why the kids get into the violence and gang-related activity, because there’s no outlet . . . and that’s play,’’ Norman said.

“If I can do all I can to help out in that area and give back to them as much as I possibly can, I know I’m doing a good deed, good justice.’’

If his newfound celebrity and wealth fast-forward that project, all the better.

“If it does, kudos to it,’’ said Norman, selected to the 2015 Pro Bowl. “I’m going to do it until there is a breath left in my body to do it. The celebrity status you say, 'Hey, it is what it is.] It comes with the territory.’’