Brown and Barron Honored by AFCA
7/19/2024 9:58:00 AM | Football
New Orange football head coach Fran Brown has made it a mission for the team to be active in the community, and he and safety Justin Barron were recognized for their charitable contributions by the AFCA this week.
Brown and Barron were named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team nominees for coaches and student-athletes respectively. New this year, the AFCA Good Works team and Wuerffel Trophy have partnered, meaning Barron is also up for that prestigious award.
The Allstate Wuerffel Trophy will honor a student-athlete who is inspired to serve others and make a positive impact on society. Together with the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, the awards will mark college football's premier honors for community service.
"Student-athletes deserve recognition for their contributions both in and out of sports" said Troy Hawkes, Allstate executive vice president and general manager. "The Allstate Wuerffel Trophy doubles down on Allstate's commitment to celebrating college football athletes for outstanding performance on the field, in the classroom, and in their community."
Brown's squad logged over 2,000 hours of community service in the spring semester alone. Barron was one of the most active in doing so, earning the team's Community Service Award at the spring game. At the 'Cuse Awards, mayor Ben Walsh estimated that the football program's charitable economic impact was over $20,000 over the 14-week spring semester.
A team captain in 2023, Barron worked with numerous organizations this past year. He has volunteered with Syracuse City Schools meeting with and reading for local children, participated in Syracuse football's neighborhood cleanup program where they clean trash up off sidewalks and roadways on city streets, volunteered at the salvation army preparing clothing, as well as both the Rescue Mission and Samaritan Center preparing and serving food. He has met with veterans and their families at Clear Path for Veterans, worked at the CNY Diaper Bank, participated in the CNY Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's Walk, worked on charity events with the Syracuse Mets, prepared boxes of food at the Syracuse Food Bank, completed community service initiatives at the Walter Camp Foundation dinner in Connecticut, while he was there for their awards dinner and visited a Veterans hospital during the Boca Raton Bowl week, meeting with disabled veterans. He has also used his Name, Image and Likeness for good causes and partnered with a local smoothie shop to raise nearly $3,000 for charity through a player charity promotion.
Brown started laying the groundwork for the community initiatives in his introductory press conference, drawing parallels to the City of Syracuse and his hometown Camden, New Jersey. He instituted mandatory community service hours for everyone in the program and individually backed up his promise with numerous initiatives on his own. He often goes to a street in the community and picks up trash to improve it, has volunteered with Syracuse City Schools, the Salvation Army, Rescue Mission, youth football groups and more.
He also made his youth camps affordable to everyone in the community, charging only $1 to attend his FRANchise Youth Camps.
Citizenship and academics are also important to Brown. The Orange recorded their highest GPA in program history during his first semester on the job.
The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team was established in 1992 by the College Football Association, recognizing the extra efforts made by college football players and student support staff off the field. AFCA became the governing body of the award in 1997 and continues to honor college football players who go the extra mile for those in need. Allstate worked to present the award starting with the 2008 season.
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Brown and Barron were named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team nominees for coaches and student-athletes respectively. New this year, the AFCA Good Works team and Wuerffel Trophy have partnered, meaning Barron is also up for that prestigious award.
The Allstate Wuerffel Trophy will honor a student-athlete who is inspired to serve others and make a positive impact on society. Together with the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, the awards will mark college football's premier honors for community service.
"Student-athletes deserve recognition for their contributions both in and out of sports" said Troy Hawkes, Allstate executive vice president and general manager. "The Allstate Wuerffel Trophy doubles down on Allstate's commitment to celebrating college football athletes for outstanding performance on the field, in the classroom, and in their community."
Brown's squad logged over 2,000 hours of community service in the spring semester alone. Barron was one of the most active in doing so, earning the team's Community Service Award at the spring game. At the 'Cuse Awards, mayor Ben Walsh estimated that the football program's charitable economic impact was over $20,000 over the 14-week spring semester.
A team captain in 2023, Barron worked with numerous organizations this past year. He has volunteered with Syracuse City Schools meeting with and reading for local children, participated in Syracuse football's neighborhood cleanup program where they clean trash up off sidewalks and roadways on city streets, volunteered at the salvation army preparing clothing, as well as both the Rescue Mission and Samaritan Center preparing and serving food. He has met with veterans and their families at Clear Path for Veterans, worked at the CNY Diaper Bank, participated in the CNY Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's Walk, worked on charity events with the Syracuse Mets, prepared boxes of food at the Syracuse Food Bank, completed community service initiatives at the Walter Camp Foundation dinner in Connecticut, while he was there for their awards dinner and visited a Veterans hospital during the Boca Raton Bowl week, meeting with disabled veterans. He has also used his Name, Image and Likeness for good causes and partnered with a local smoothie shop to raise nearly $3,000 for charity through a player charity promotion.
Brown started laying the groundwork for the community initiatives in his introductory press conference, drawing parallels to the City of Syracuse and his hometown Camden, New Jersey. He instituted mandatory community service hours for everyone in the program and individually backed up his promise with numerous initiatives on his own. He often goes to a street in the community and picks up trash to improve it, has volunteered with Syracuse City Schools, the Salvation Army, Rescue Mission, youth football groups and more.
He also made his youth camps affordable to everyone in the community, charging only $1 to attend his FRANchise Youth Camps.
Citizenship and academics are also important to Brown. The Orange recorded their highest GPA in program history during his first semester on the job.
The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team was established in 1992 by the College Football Association, recognizing the extra efforts made by college football players and student support staff off the field. AFCA became the governing body of the award in 1997 and continues to honor college football players who go the extra mile for those in need. Allstate worked to present the award starting with the 2008 season.
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Players Mentioned
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