Fernando Mendoza Announces Major Charitable Move Before NFL Draft

Reigning Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza is widely expected to come off the board as the Las Vegas Raiders’ No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

That being said, Mendoza will not be in Pittsburgh to walk across the stage after his name is called.

Mendoza will be watching the draft with his family in Miami. The 22-year-old quarterback’s mother, Elsa, has been living with multiple sclerosis for years - making travel to Pittsburgh difficult.

During his Heisman Trophy acceptance speech this past December, Mendoza recognized his mother as his biggest supporter. Now, he’s doing all he can to support his mother.

On the day of the 2026 NFL Draft, Mendoza announced his launching of the Mendoza Family Fund - a charitable fund to raise money to fight MS.

Mendoza kicked off the fundraising with a $500,000 donation from his own pocket.

“This fund is about my mom and the millions of people living with MS,” Mendoza said in a statement. “My mom has taught our family strength, resilience, and positivity. My brothers Alberto and Max, my dad, and I – we’ve all learned from her example. She’s the reason we fight, and the reason we believe we can do something bigger than ourselves.

“Partnering with the National MS Society through the Mendoza Family Fund gives us the opportunity to turn that inspiration into real impact by advancing groundbreaking research and helping families like mine navigate this disease. Together, we can bring us closer to a cure and a future free of MS.”

The first round of the NFL draft will begin at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday.

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This story was originally published April 23, 2026 at 12:10 PM.