Former Football Orangemen Lend a Hand in Their Communities During the Holidays and Year-Round
12/11/2003 3:59:30 PM | Football
McNabb made his annual holiday visit, donning his Santa Claus suit at the Children's Crisis Treatment Center on December 9. The Donovan McNabb Foundation hosted this special afternoon, as McNabb lifted the spirits and distributed gifts donated by Reebok to children who have suffered abuse, neglect, trauma and other challenges to early childhood development. McNabb dresses up as Santa Claus each year before Christmas to deliver toys and entertain kids.
In addition to spreading the holiday spirit, McNabb remains involved in the community throughout the year. He was recently named one of USA Weekend Magazine’s Most Caring Athletes, recognizing the efforts of the Donovan McNabb Foundation, which helps fight diabetes and supports children's hospital programs.
McNabb hosted his family, friends, and local philanthropists to "Philly Flavor" in May, 2002. The night included a progressive dinner that stopped at some of Philadelphia's hottest restaurants. The following day, McNabb tutored 300 junior high students at his Kids Camp Football Clinic.
He began the Donovan McNabb Golden Arm Scholarship in 2000 for students who maintain at least a 2.5 grade point average at Mt. Carmel High School, his alma mater. Scholarship winners are selected based on essays they submit about their own lives.
McNabb donated a significant amount of money to the American Red Cross local disasters relief fund in Philadelphia in the wake of Hurricane Floyd (Sept. 1999) and the 9/11 tragedy (Sept. 2001).
In addition to McNabb, several other former Orangemen have contributed their time and talents to their communities:
Will Allen ’01, New York Giants
Last Christmas, along with Shaun Williams and William Peterson, Allen visited Providence Malta Prep, a program created by the Catholic Community Services and the Hudson County Department of Health and Human Services to assist at-risk teen boys who are in the Foster Care System. The starting defensive back mates spent over $5000 to make sure each of the boys, who have virtually no home or family, had Christmas gifts.
Gary Anderson ’82, Tennessee Titans
Anderson has been active in community programs such as Spina Bifida, Adelphoi Village, Youth Guidance and Project Bundle-up.
Keith Bulluck ’00, Tennessee Titans
In an effort to give back to the community and extend his hand to children with similar backgrounds, Bulluck has started the Keith Bulluck Believe and Achieve program to work with Nashville area foster care groups. During the 2003 offseason, he was joined by several teammates and players from around the league in the first annual Keith Bulluck NFL Celebrity Ballers Classic basketball game to raise money for the program.
Rob Burnett ’90, Miami Dolphins
During his tenure in Baltimore, Burnett established a charitable foundation called FOCUS (“Facing Our Children’s Urban Situation”), through which money was donated for every sack the Ravens recorded to the Ravens’ Courage House, a shelter in Timonium, Md., for children whose parents cannot properly care for them. Burnett has also been involved in such charitable endeavors as “Toys for Tots”, United Way, Police Athletic League and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He personally donated money for every sack he made to the Police Athletic League. Burnett served as a spokesman for the Maryland Board of Education, and was a regular participant in the “Read with the Ravens” Program.
Donovin Darius ’98, Jacksonville Jaguars
Darius has made community involvement a priority since joining the Jaguars. He hosts a free, one-day, youth “Sharpen Your Skills” football camp to help local youth sharpen their skills and attitudes to assist them in reaching their full potential. He recently established the Donovin Darius Children’s Foundation to focus his efforts in serving youth. He was named the Jaguars’ 2001 Community Leader of the Year for his on-going community involvement. Darius was named the Jaguars’ “Hometown Hero” at the 2002 Jaspers Awards show. He is a frequent speaker at area elementary schools and is a spokesman for the team’s annual Gift of Life holiday blood drive. Darius volunteers annually with Jacksonville’s Communities In Schools program at Ribault Middle School, talking to students about important decisions they will face as teenagers and adults, setting goals and holding onto their dreams. He speaks to two schools a month about the importance of making the right choices and supports community blood drives organized by the Florida-Georgia Blood Alliance. Darius also supports several programs of the Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation, including the Playbooks reading initiative and Straight Talk anti-teen pregnancy program. He has supported several local youth sports organizations and is active in his church, Potter’s House Christian Fellowship. Darius served as the Jaguars’ 2002 United Way spokesman and a spokesman for sickle cell anemia. He was the NFL’s December 2002 Extra Effort Award winner and 2002 recipient of the Jaguars/Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Community Champions Award for his exceptional ongoing community involvement.
Morlon Greenwood ’01, Miami Dolphins
Greenwood has assisted in building houses for Habitat for Humanity.
Marvin Harrison ’96, Indianapolis Colts
Harrison hosted approximately 40 youths from Terre Haute Hyte Center during training camp last year and each kid received a jersey and lunch. He hosted a Christmas celebration with residential children at Northwestern Humane Services in Philadelphia last year. Harrison donates tickets to each home game to the Police Athletic League (PALS). Harrison, along with McNabb and Bobby Taylor of the Philadelphia Eagles, hosted a three-on-three charity basketball tournament in Philadelphia in the off-season to benefit the March of Dimes. He participated in Colts-Star/News Gridiron Geography program. Harrison sponsors "Effort to Succeed" program which honors students from Philadelphia schools. He sponsors one Philadelphia high school student each summer to attend Syracuse University. Harrison appeared on “Wheel of Fortune” during Super Bowl week in 1999 to raise money for underprivileged children in Syracuse. He sponsored a special turkey giveaway at Thanksgiving for inner-city Philadelphia residents. He participated the last two years in the Cookies for Kids program that benefited the Indianapolis Housing Agency Development. Harrison’s mother, Linda, was one of the 16 founding members of the Pro Football Player’s Mother’s Association.
Rob Konrad ’99, Miami Dolphins
Konrad has done charity work with the Shriners Hospital, the Boys & Girls Club and the United Way. He worked with kids that have Cystic Fibrosis at the Mercury Junior Anglers Clinic, teaching them how to fish.
Olindo Mare ’96, Miami Dolphins
Mare has participated in events benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and has assisted in building houses for Habitat for Humanity. In 2001, he donated $100 per successful field goal totaling $1,900 to the American Red Cross in support of the efforts following September 11th.
Kevin Mitchell ’94, Washington Redskins
Mitchell is an active member in the Redskins community, annually helping Eddie Mason’s Faith Foundation assemble baskets for area homeless shelters on Thanksgiving.
Melvin Tuten ‘95, Carolina Panthers
In the offseason, Tuten worked at "The Buckeye Ranch", a non-profit organization for physically and mentally abused children in Grove City, Ohio.
Dave Wohlabaugh ’95, St. Louis Rams
Wohlabaugh has participated in Bowl-a-RAM-a, an event that benefits the Epilepsy Foundation of St. Louis.
