Billy Ray Smith Jr. and Kimberly Hunt’s story in San Diego began in 1987.

Four years earlier, Billy Ray Smith had completed one of the greatest legacies in the history of college football, following in his father’s footsteps at the University of Arkansas as a two-time unanimous All-American and a lock for the College Football Hall of Fame before advancing to the fierce gridiron of the National Football League.

Billy Ray Jr., selected by the then-San Diego Chargers with the fifth overall pick in the first round of the NFL Draft, went on to captain the team’s defense and earn All-Pro honors during his 10-season career with the Chargers.

Kimberly arrived in San Diego in 1987 after serving as an associate producer for ABC’s World News Tonight and Monday Night Football, and as the weeknight anchor for the CBS affiliate in Monterey, California.

They met through their shared commitment to giving back to the community, volunteering to co-host a weekend-long telethon benefiting the United Cerebral Palsy Association of San Diego County.

It was just the first of dozens of nonprofit causes they would champion together over the decades that followed.

Known for his infectious laugh, warm smile, and firm handshake, Billy Ray is equally admired for his generosity and dedication to serving others. Along with a handful of fellow Chargers players, he helped establish the Bates Street after-school learning and activity center for inner-city children, creating a safe place where young people could learn, grow, and thrive.

Charitable work has never been an obligation for Billy Ray—it has been simply a way of life. Although he’s participated in hundreds of charity golf tournaments, he never missed the Armed Services YMCA event.

He also served as co-chair of the American Cancer Society’s annual golf tournament.

For almost a decade, Billy Ray and his “Scott and BR” radio co-host, Scott Kaplan, hosted charity golf tournaments at Camp Pendleton to support military families before establishing their own nonprofit, the Great Friends Foundation.

Through the Foundation, they awarded scholarships to military children, with special emphasis on those whose parents were deployed.

They also helped fund Computers 2 San Diego Kids and educational enrichment programs designed to prepare underserved children for kindergarten.

The Great Friends Foundation further supported the Challenged Athletes Foundation’s Operation Rebound, providing prosthetic limbs, adaptive sports equipment, and rehabilitation opportunities that enabled wounded service members to return to the sports they loved.

Billy Ray’s commitment to young people extended far beyond fundraising. Over the years, he spoke to countless youth sports teams, schools, and community organizations, encouraging generations of children to dream big, work hard, and give back.

Raised in a family grounded in faith, service, and perseverance, Kimberly has never forgotten the prayer she offered before beginning her first television job—a promise to use her platform to make a positive difference in the lives of others.

She has remained true to that commitment throughout her career. Kimberly continues to donate her time as an emcee for dozens of charitable events each year, supporting organizations dedicated to children, law enforcement, healthcare, veterans, and military families. When asked to estimate the number of events she had volunteered for in a single year, the total reached 56. She also shares her faith journey by speaking at churches and community gatherings.

Kimberly’s dedication to supporting law enforcement is deeply rooted in her family’s legacy of service. Her father and grandfather both served in the U.S. Armed Forces during wartime before pursuing careers devoted to public safety.

As a journalist, Kimberly has also used her voice to expose crimes that prey on the most vulnerable, including human trafficking and cybercrimes against children. Her commitment to public awareness and crime prevention earned her the Attorney General’s Crime Prevention Award.