How Are NFL Players Showing Support For Causes They Care About?
How are players in the National Football League showing support for causes they care about?
Through My Cause My Cleats!
What is My Cause My Cleats?
It’s where NFL players reveal their passions beyond the game and wear their hearts on their feet through My Cause My Cleats. Players have the opportunity to pick a cause that is important to them and represent their chosen organization on custom designed cleats. “according to an article on nfl.com/ my cause my cleats and then the cleats
So what causes are players supporting on their cleats during games?
Patrick Mahomes who is the starting quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs is supporting the 15 and the Mahomes Foundation!
What is the 15 and the Mahomes Foundation?
It’s dedicated to improving the lives of children. The Foundation supports initiatives that focus on health, wellness, communities in need of resources and other charitable causes. “according to an article on Patrick Mahomes website www.www.15andthemahomies.org
Matthew Stafford who is the starting quarterback for the Detroit Lions is supporting SAY PLAY Detroit!
What is SAY PLAY Detroit?
It’s a play center at Lipke Park where after-school students commit to earning a 3.0 GPA and enjoy first-rate academic, athletic & arts programs in partnership with Detroit’s major sports teams. “according to an article on saydetroit.org/play/
Matt Ryan who is the starting quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons is Gr8 Hope Foundation which is personal foundation that helps provide resources and support to promote lasting improvements and bring healing to children with medical needs, hope for our future generations, and happiness to the children and their families enduring medical challenges. “according to gr8hopefoundation.com while also is showing support for Make A Wish! What is Make -A -Wish! What is Make -A- Wish? It’s a foundation that supports children fighting critical illnesses! “according to secure2.wish.org/
Matt Skura who is a Guard as well as a Center for the Baltimore Ravens is supporting the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation!
What is the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation?
Mission
Imagine a world without childhood brain tumors.
That's the future we're fighting for. The reality, though, is that 13 children and teens are diagnosed each day with a brain tumor, more children die of brain tumors than any other cancer, and survivors often face lifelong side effects and years of tests and treatments.
As the world's leading nonprofit dedicated to children and teens with brain tumors, the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation’s mission is to care for families along their journey, cure all childhood brain tumors, and help survivors and families thrive. “according to an article on http://www.curethekids.org/about-us/mission/#.X-DP23ZKg1k
Larry Fitzgerald who is a wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals is supporting the Larry Fitzgerald Foundation as well as the First Down Fund!
What is the Larry Fitzgerald Foundation?
It has two priorities!
What are they?
1) Promoting reading proficiency and technology access for K-12 youth as cornerstones to success at school and in life, and
2) Supporting efforts to prevent and cure breast cancer and support breast cancer survivors.
What is The First Down Fund?
The First Down Fund was established by Larry Fitzgerald Jr. to help kids and their families by funding positive activities for kids during the summer and throughout the year, helping kids and families in crisis, and supporting health-related organizations that work with families.
Larry and The Larry Fitzgerald First Down Fund give significant gifts - in time, money and resources - to numerous organizations across the country.
During the 2011 season, Larry made a donation each week to a charitable organization nominated by a fan. The following organizations received a donation as a result of this initiative:
Juvenile Diabetes Research FoundationPhoenix Children's HospitalDonorschoose.orgJuvenile Diabetes Research FoundationStarkey Hearing FoundationDesert Dance TheaterParenting with a PurposeCatholic Charities in FlagstaffStreetlight USAAutism SpeaksThe Kingman AZ FoodbankPhoenix Youth at RiskSpecial Olympics of MinnesotaSpecial Olympics of ArizonaPinal Council for CASA/FosterCamp SimchaOperation Homefront of ArizonaYWCA of Oahu, Hawaii
During the past few seasons Larry and the First Down Fund have made donations to breast cancer organizations based on his touchdowns and receptions in the month of October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The following organizations have received significant donations as a result of this initiative: The National Breast Cancer Foundation, the American Cancer Society, African American Breast Cancer Alliance, and Sistas of AZ Pink 365 campaign providing free mammograms.
Last summer the Larry Fitzgerald First Down Fund also distributed funds to the Southern Arizona American Red Cross for wildfire relief. According to the Red Cross the donation prevented ten families from becoming homeless. The Larry Fitzgerald First Down Fund has also distributed funds to the Jerry Gamble Boys & Girls Club in North Minneapolis for summer youth programming, the Boys and Girls Club of Metropolitan Phoenix for summer youth programming, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona for summer youth programming, Horizons Youth Program at Sabathani Community Center in Minneapolis for summer youth programming, Minnesota Helps - North Minneapolis Recovery Fund to help families affected by the tornado, and Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Minneapolis for a summer film series.
During Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October Larry donated $1,000 to programs that fight breast cancer. For every touchdown catch, Fitzgerald donated $5,000. Aside from non-melanoma skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women, according the Center for Disease Control (CDC). In 2003, Fitzgerald lost his mother, Carol, to the disease.
Larry has made donations to numerous other charitable organizations including Plano Vision Development Center, Carol Fitzgerald Memorial Fund, Simley High School, First Things First Midwest, Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Chicago, and The Academy of the Holy Angels. Larry also donated a computer lab to the Horizons Youth Program. Horizons Youth Program has leveraged the gift to raise additional funds while making the lab a technology resource for people of all ages.“according to an article http://fitzgerald.infinityvip.com/fund/
Phillip Rivers who is the starting quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts is supporting KNot Today!
What is KNot Today?
kNOT TODAY exists to generate awareness, initiate prevention strategies, and assist in the development of innovative healing programs for sexually abused and exploited children. “according to knotoday.org
But Phillip Rivers isn’t the only player from the Indianapolis Colts choosing to support kNOT TODAY as his teammate DeForest Buckner who is a Defensive Tackle is as well!
Russell Wilson who is the starting quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks is supporting the Why Not You Foundation!
What is the Why Not You Foundation?
It was founded by by Russell Wilson in 2014, we are a nonprofit dedicated to education, children’s health and fighting poverty, empowering today’s youth to lead with a why not you attitude. “according to https://whynotyoufdn.org/
Our mission is to empower change in the world, one individual at a time, and one child at a time.
Want to learn more about the causes NFL Players are supporting on their cleats?
Visit https://www.nfl.com/causes/my-cause-my-cleats/