Jacksonville's Calais Campbell Named Week 4 NFLPA Community MVP
JACKSONVILLE’S CALAIS CAMPBELL NAMED WEEK 4 NFLPA COMMUNITY MVP
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Calais Campbell has been named Week 4 NFLPA Community MVP after donating $20,000 to four organizations that will benefit domestic violence victims and youth in his hometown of Denver through his CRC Foundation.
On September 23, to recognize his return to the Denver area in advance of the Jacksonville Jaguars game against the Broncos, Campbell announced donations of $5,000 each to:
- Beckwourth Outdoor Education (where he attended summer camp as a kid)
- Hiawatha Davis Rec Center (where he played football from ages 6-13)
- The Denver Police Athletic League (for which he played youth sports)
- The Rose Andom Center (which helps victims of domestic violence)
“The game of football continues to be a platform for me to change lives and I’m grateful to the NFLPA for recognizing the work I’m doing in the community,” said Campbell, who serves as the union’s player representative for Jacksonville. “I was one of many young people who relied on Denver-based community after-school and sports programs, and this was just simply of my way of saying thank you.”
Campbell’s donations are just one of several charitable initiatives he is taking part in during his 11thNFL campaign, which he’s dubbed the “Season of Giving.” Each month during the 2019 regular season, the All-Pro defensive lineman will donate up to $20,000 to a different cause based on the on-field performance of him and the Jaguars, with:
- $1,000 per Jaguars win
- $5,000 per sack
- $2,500 per half sack
- $2,000 per tackle for loss
- $10,000 per blocked kick or turnover
In September, their statistics raised $19,000 for Feeding Northeast Florida, with Campbell personally contributing the remaining portion to round up the monthly donation to $20,000. The rest of the Season of Giving will be dedicated to Clara White Mission (October), Wounded Warrior Project (November) and United Way, with a focus on mental health awareness and education (December).
“This season, I wanted to use my play on the field to bring attention and funds to some very deserving causes in Jacksonville, Denver and nationally with my 'Season of Giving' initiative,” Campbell said. “It only made sense to include Denver charities that either impacted me directly or are doing great work to serve those in need. I can’t wait to see how much money we can raise together for more deserving causes the rest of the season.”
In honor of his late father Charles Richard Campbell, who taught him to pay it forward, Calais created the CRC Foundationto help young people develop into empowered leaders. In carrying out his mission, Campbell has engaged in numerous selfless acts, including the creation of a bi-weekly after-school reading program at a Jacksonville school, hosting an annual Christmas shopping spree for disadvantaged children, setting up the CRC Foundation Scholarship Program and donating $25,000 to the Ronald McDonald House this past May.
In honor of Campbell being named this week’s Community MVP, the NFLPA will make a $10,000 contribution to the CRC Foundation. Also, our supporting partner Pledge It has set up a crowdfunding campaign to benefit the CRC Foundation during its “Season of Giving” initiative. Supporters can pledge contributions based on every sack by Campbell or they can make a flat donation:
Campbell, along with the other 2019 Community MVPs, will become eligible for this year’s Alan Page Community Award, which is the highest honor that the NFLPA can bestow upon a player.
The NFLPA Community MVP program recognizes NFL players who are making a positive impact in their local communities. Each week during the regular season, the NFLPA will celebrate one NFL player who has demonstrated a commitment to giving back to his community. Please visit our website to read more about the program.
2019 NFLPA Community MVP winners:
Week 0: Derrick Nnadi, Kansas City Chiefs
Week 1: Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings
Week 2: Rashaad Coward, Chicago Bears
Week 3: Lonnie Johnson, Houston Texans
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