George Wilson of the Buffalo Bills is a true example of being a leader on and off the football field. The passion that he brings to his team and helping others is something that you can’t is a fundamental part of who he is as a person and a player.
For the second time, Wilson is being recognized for his contributions to the game and the community by being named as the Bills Walter Payton Man of the Year for 2011.
“Just to be considered for it again and then win for my team a second time it just makes me want to continue to do more,” Wilson told Buffalobills.com. “Not because of the recognition, but just because of the lives I’ve been able to touch and the impact we’ve had. I find great job and pride in doing that.”
George Wilson covers a lot of ground as a safety for the Buffalo Bills, but he is even more active off the field through his youth-focused charity foundation. Wilson will hosts an annual Sports Fest Football Camp in his hometown of Paducah, KY, which is just one of the numerous events and programs he sponsors year round.
Wilson got involved doing charity work back in college. After a few years as an NFL player, he decided to start his own foundation. He formed the S.A.F.E.T.Y. Foundation two years ago, playing off the name of his position and focusing on a mission to Save Adolescents From the Everyday Trials of Youth.
“I wanted to do more because I’ve really been blessed to be able to live my dream,” Wilson said. “Over the years, I’ve been in a lot of community centers to share my testimony. I ask questions. I try to find out what the kids are struggling with.”
Wilson’s organization runs multiple programs dealing with a variety of different youth-oriented problems. “With computers and video game systems and social networks, the first thing I got involved with is trying to make kids more physically active to combat childhood obesity” Wilson explains. He has been involved in the NFL Play 60 program through the Buffalo Bills and is working to expand on that message through his Sports Fest, which includes a football camp and cheerleading clinic.
“You see these young kids dealing with illness, but you see the strength in these kids – the strength to smile, to laugh, and to have the joy of living life. It’s something that just warms your heart every time you’re able to walk in a room and put a smile on a child’s face,” said Wilson.
Last year, Wilson ran a mentorship program called That’s Life, targeted at high school students and coordinated with the Northwest Buffalo Community Center. The program teaches everything from conflict resolution, to health and wellness, to financial literacy, to ACT / SAT test preparation.
And the activities don’t stop for the NFL season. Each year, he does a program at Thanksgiving to provide dinner to 100 families in need in the Buffalo area, and he does a program at Christmas back in his hometown adopting 25 kids with a Christmas wish list, to ease the burden on the parents.
His service and devotion haven’t gone unnoticed. In 2008, Wilson was the recipient of the prestigious President’s Volunteer Service Award, which is the highest service honor one can receive from the White House. In addition, in 2009 he had the distinct honor of receiving the Buffalo Bills’ Walter Payton Man of the Year award for his commitment to educating today’s youth.
The rapid growth of Wilson’s community efforts have somewhat mirrored his growth on the field. Stepping into a full time starting role at strong safety this season, Wilson leads the Bills in interceptions and is second on the team in tackles.
Just this past week Wilson had his second annual holiday toy drive for kids in his native Paducah, which was dramatically more successful than the inaugural event a year earlier.
“Last year we helped out 25 kids in the Paducah, Kentucky school system,” said Wilson. “This past Tuesday, a year later, we collected over 5,000 toys for the toy drive we did. We partnered with Toys for Tots and put donation boxes out in the community and local businesses helped out to purchase toys as well. So we got to impact over 600 kids this holiday season with gifts.”
As one of 32 Man of the Year winners from the 32 different teams, Wilson is now a nominee for the overall league Walter Payton Man of the Year award. A panel of judges, which includes NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Connie Payton (widow of Walter Payton), the previous year’s winner (Vikings S Madieu Williams), and a number of former players, selects the winner of the award.
The NFL’s Man of the Year winner receives a $25,000 donation in his name to a charity of his choice. The other 31 finalists also receive donations in their name of $1,000 each to charities of their choice.
Several outside observers believe Wilson stands a good chance to be the overall league winner.
“If that was to happen I’d have to give more credit to my support team and my volunteers instead of me getting all the credit,” said Wilson. “Yes, I’ll be the one getting the personal recognition on that stage, but everybody that has sacrificed their time and donated monetarily to the foundation can take just as much pride in an award like that as I can.”
