While Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis was on the practice field today getting ready for Super Bowl 50 on Sunday, the NFLPA awarded him the Byron “Whizzer” White award winner at their state of the union press conference this afternoon at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.
The award goes to the player in the NFL who goes above and beyond to perform community service in their team’s cities and hometowns.
Davis, who took home the 2014 Walter Payton Man of the Year award for his on and off the field contributions, founded the Thomas Davis Defending Dreams Foundation in 2008.
The mission of the foundation is to encourage students to develop essential life and social skills that will help turn them into the leaders of tomorrow.
The foundation wants to show kids that their past doesn’t determine their future, and that they too can reach their dreams.
According to the NFLPA site, the award was established by the professional football players of America to acknowledge a debt of gratitude to one of their own, Supreme Court Justice Byron Raymond “Whizzer” White—scholar, athlete, patriot, humanitarian and public servant. The NFLPA presents this prestigious annual award to the player that is just as dedicated off the field as he is on it.
Each team was given the opportunity to nominate players during the regular season, and for each submission, was given up to $5000 for the player’s foundation or charity of choice.
In winning the award, Davis will receive $100,000 to help with the goals of his foundation.
Davis’s wife, Kelly, was on hand to accept the award.
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