SINCE HIS EARLIEST DAYS IN THE LEAGUE, Derek has been involved in a wide range of community service projects, doing whatever he can to help better the lives of those who need help.

Presenting the check to UALR (Getty Images).

University of Arkansas at Little Rock
As a graduate of University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR), Fisher returned in 2005, donating $700,000 to the University for an auxiliary gym at the Stephens Center and to establish Fisher Fellows, a mentoring program for neighborhood middle school students. The Fisher Fellows program provides guidance to sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students from Southwest Middle School who are paired with UALR student athletes to learn the concepts of life, academics, organizational, social, and athletic skills.

At the time, Derek said:

“I'm extremely fortunate to be in a position where I can provide my assistance to something that has had a huge impact on my life and career -- the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and the outstanding citizens of that community,” said Fisher. “I hope this mentoring program will give some of the students in Little Rock the chance to reach their potential and achieve their dreams, much like I had the opportunity to do so as a youngster. If this gesture results in having a positive impact on one, 10 or 100 students, it will certainly prove worthwhile.”

Retinoblastoma
After their family's experiences with retinoblastoma, Derek and his wife, Candace, are planning to create an organization to raise awareness about this tragic form of cancer, and to fight the disease. News about their efforts will be posted here in the weeks and months to come.