Key Takeaways
- Russell Wilson and Ciara tell Town & Country they want their children to stay humble, dream big, and understand that life means more than financial security.
- Their Why Not You Foundation has raised millions for youth programs, including $3 million for Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital and $500,000 for food assistance in Atlanta.
- The couple remains committed to taking risks after their charter school closed in 2026, as Wilson begins a CBS Sports broadcasting career and they prepare to welcome their fifth child, “Baby Cinco.”
Russell Wilson and Ciara are bringing their family mission to the cover of Town & Country Magazine, opening up about their philanthropic work, raising four children with a fifth on the way, and why even a failed venture won't stop them from trying something new.
In the magazine's November 2026 issue, published online Tuesday (Oct. 27), the couple discusses their Why Not You Foundation, which has raised millions for children's education, healthcare, and community programs. But the mission goes back further than their marriage. According to Wilson, they discovered they shared a passion for philanthropy on their first date in 2015.
“We're encouraging kids to truly dream big and actually creating the opportunity for them so they can see it, feel it, and do it,” Wilson told the magazine.
Ciara added, “We want children to have spaces where they can be creative, and support them in a way that brings fun and inspiration.”
The foundation has backed several major initiatives, including a $3 million donation to Mount Sinai Kravis Children's Hospital in New York City to create therapeutic spaces for young patients and their families. In Atlanta, where Ciara launched her music career, the couple donated $500,000 in 2025 to support food assistance programs.
“There's nothing better than giving back to a city that feels so proud of you,” Ciara said.
Not every project has gone according to plan, however. The couple's Why Not You Academy, a charter school that opened in Des Moines, Washington, in 2021, closed in June 2026 after struggling with declining enrollment and poor attendance.
Wilson acknowledged the challenges of operating a school but defended the decision to take the risk.
“If you don't take the shot, there's no chance for success,” he said. “You do things where you try to build something, and its impacts may last for a certain period of time, and maybe not.”
That willingness to try also extends to how the couple is raising their children. Ciara acknowledged that Future, Sienna, Win, and Amora are growing up with considerably more financial security than either parent experienced.
Her solution includes an annual Christmas rule: The children must donate some of their toys before Santa Claus can visit.
The cover story arrives during a major year for the couple. Wilson retired from the NFL after 14 seasons and transitioned to broadcasting with CBS Sports.
For Ciara, the foundation's work isn't separate from the lessons she and Wilson want their children to learn.
“When they have that mentality, there's no limit to what they can do,” she said. “There's no limit to their dreams. If they're going to help continue this mission, they have to be a part of it.”
