Last Sunday evening over 100 million people around the world watched an amazing football game, played by men of extraordinary athletic ability. These men have mastered their art by putting in thousands of hours on the practice field. But what many of them have done off the field is even more impressive.
Tom Brady, the game’s greatest quarterback and MVP of the Super Bowl, gives millions of dollars and countless hours of support to Best Buddies Challenge – “the world’s largest non-profit organization dedicated to ending the social, physical and economic isolation of the 200 million people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).”
Falcons head coach Dan Quinn and his wife Stacey run an organization called Quinn’s Corps. Established in 2005, the foundation “serves members of the military both at home and abroad. Quinn’s Corps foundation provides military families that are stateside with tickets to games while sending special care packages to soldiers that are deployed overseas.”
Pats corner Logan Ryan‘s love of dogs has given his life off the field special meaning. He is one of the league’s most active participants in animal rights causes, on display in the video available here.
Falcons kicker Matt Bryant donates $100 to ALS for every field goal he makes.
Rookie Malcolm Mitchell, an avid reader, has started a wildly successful children’s literacy program.
And don’t forget the refs! Instead of using their allotment of seats, the NFL Referees Association gave tickets to charities including Susan G. Komen and the American Diabetes Association.
Football has been widely criticized in recent years. But let’s remember and celebrate the many men involved in the game who are using their platform to help others live better lives.
Art Gurwitz
Founder. Areena.
Author
